172 WILD LIFE IN CHINA. 



between the male and the female of this species. It is easy 

 to understand the colouration of the female. Living as she 

 does on or near the ground, she needs all the protection that 

 earth tints can supply. For this reason her dress is compar- 

 able with that of the partridge, quail, etc. But why should her 

 partner be made so conspicuous? His light tints show him 

 up the moment he moves; why should this be? He probably 

 takes no part in incubation and so runs no risks in that way, 

 and it may be that his showy colours serve to attract attention 

 from his mate when she is so engaged. 



There is another very handsome harrier, known as 

 Montagu's harrier, with most of its upper covering a delicate 

 greyish blue, breast of the same tint, with brown-speckled 

 under parts and outer tail feathers, and brown primaries. I 

 am not sure whether this species is ever seen in China. 

 Other kinds that are, are C. macrurus, the pale-chested 

 harrier, not unlike the male of the hen harrier. David says 

 that this is rare out here, and I cannot recollect ever having 

 seen one myself. C. aeruginosus, on the other hand, is met 

 with not infrequently. This is the marsh harrier of England, 

 where, naturally, drainage has lessened its numbers con- 

 siderably. It is not unlike the female of the hen harrier in 

 appearance, but is somewhat more handsome with its slaty 

 blue wing coverts and tail. Like its cousin it is a sjsarcher 

 of the ground, more especially of swampy ground, where it 

 sometimes finds water-rats, reptiles, and perhaps, occasionally, 

 even fish coming within its grasp. Specimens of this species 

 sometimes attain a length of two feet. A story is told of a 

 tame one which through an accident lost a leg. Its kindly 

 disposed owner fashioned for it a makeshift of wood, which, 

 after modification, was found to answer so well that its 

 owner was enabled to resume hunting operations, and 

 having pounced on a rat deftly turned it on its back, pinned 

 it down with the wooden leg, and gave the coup de grace 

 with the talons of the perfect foot ! 



