THE MARSH-HARRIER. 



149 



at base by web, claws long, slender and tapering to very sharp 

 point. Bill somewhat short, fairly broad at base, compressed at 

 tip of upper mandible which is curved and projects in a sharp point 

 over lower mandible, which is flat and with rounded tip, cutting 

 edge of upper mandible with curved projection. Nostrils oblong, 

 thinly covered with bristle-like feathers of lores. On each side of 

 back from insertion of wing to rump narrow patch of " powder " 

 down, with long, closely set and very fine barbs matted together, 

 friable and greasy to touch, much as in Herons but longer, less 

 matted and not lying so close to skin. 



Soft parts. — -Bill black, bluish-grey at base ; cere and legs and 

 feet yellow ; claws dark slate ; iris yellow-brown. 



Characters and allied forms. — C. ce. harterti (north Africa) in 

 adult male is rather whiter less creamy on crown, blacker on mantle, 

 whiter on lesser wing-coverts. Dark colour and creamy head of 

 young males and females, large size and absence of white on rump 

 distinguish Marsh- from other British Harriers . 



Field-characters. — Harriers 

 are large, long-legged, long- 

 winged hawks of slender build, 

 frequenters of moors, wastes 

 and fens. They fly a few feet 

 above ground, which they 

 quarter with much regularity, 

 but at times rise in wide circles 

 to considerable height. This, 

 the largest British species, 

 haunts low swampy places ex- 

 clusively, has rounder wings 

 and slower flight than the 

 others, and is readily dis- 

 tinguished by its chocolate- 

 brown coloration, creamy-white head, black primaries, and — in 

 adult male— grey secondaries and tail. Cry, a low whistling scream 

 which Dresser renders " keew." 



Breeding-habits. — Haunts marshes and fens, breeding in reed-beds 

 and rank marsh vegetation. Nest. — Much larger than those of 

 the other Harriers, built up of dead reeds and sedges, with sometimes 

 a bough of alder or sallow worked in, and lined with finer dead 

 marsh grasses ; placed in reed -bed or marsh, sometimes in water 

 3 or 4 feet deep. Eggs. — Usually 4 or 5, rarely 6, bluish- 

 white in colour, and scarcely ever showing traces of markings. 

 Average of 106 eggs, 49.5x38.6. Max. : 54.6x39.1 and 51 X42.1. 

 Min. : 45 X 37.3 and 46.3 X 35.6. Breeding-season.— From beginning 

 of April onward in southern Europe, and occasionally in latter 

 part of March, but fresh eggs may be found much later, probably 

 second or third layings. In central Europe generally in May 



The Marsh-Harrier (C. ceruginosus) , adult 

 male in flight. 



(From a diagrammatic sketch by H. M. Wallis.) 



