MARSH-HARRIER. 
CIRCUS /ERUGINOSUS. 
Considering the time I have spent at all seasons of the year in the neighbourhood of the fens and broads 
of the eastern counties, as well as in other quarters that are frequented by this species, the observations I 
have been enabled to record concerning its habits arc scanty in the extreme. 
The Marsh-Harrier is stated on good authority to occur in Scotland. Here, to the best of my knowledge, 
I have seen but a single specimen, an immature bird which I noticed in East Lothian. The only adults I could 
ever positively identify were a pair I observed sailing over the reed-beds on Wicken fen, near Ely. Occasionally 
one or two were seen beating about the fen-lands of Qui, Waterbeacli, and Swaffham, in the neighbourhood of 
Cambridge; these, I believe, were all immature. In Norfolk the species is still far from uncommon, although 
I never discovered the nest. I have watched them at all seasons of the year ; but none I met with appeared 
to have arrived at maturity. Eiftcen or twenty years ago a stray bird was now and then observed in the 
vicinity of the reedy pools on Romney Marsh, in Kent ; and in Sussex the flat country round TV'incliclsea and 
Pevensey Marsh were occasionally visited by these Harriers, though none, I believe, were ever reported to 
have bred in either county. In Cornwall a single specimen came under my notice hunting over the furze- 
covered hill-side that slopes down to the pool on Marazion marsh, near Penzance. 
During a residence of a couple of years within a mile or two of Gullane links, in East Lothian (a favourite 
locality for this species according to some writers), I had the opportunity of observing the habits of many 
birds of prey. The rabbits on these sandy hills, which are here and there interspersed with pools of water and 
beds of rushes, are, I imagine, the chief attraction to the larger species, while the numbers of small Waders 
tan‘ the Marshy portions of the ground afford an almost endless supply of food to those less powerful 
At Afferent tunes, between the two extremities of the links (which stretch for several miles alon- the coast 
from the fir-woods i of Areherfteld on the east to the shores of Aberlady burn on the west), I have witched two 
three young White-tailed Eagles, several Peregrines, Kestrels, Sparrow-Hawks, and Merlins as well as a 
occasional Buzzard. Harriers, however, with the single exception mentioned above were onlv o ■ , 
them absence. Early in the autumn of 1803 this specimen was noticed flapping ba’ckwards Ind f 0 ™!T S ? 
the low-laying marshes towards the west end of the links. A Snipe, which I had narHa,, £or '' ards over 
shot, took refuge among the sedges and water-plants near the shores of the firth • the hi • 1 ^ ^ ^ “ l0 " S 
citated from flying, and while falling attracted the attention of the Harrier In’ order u" T 
latter I withdrew behind the shelter of one of the sandbanks honim, hm a * ° btaln a shot a ‘ ‘he 
Snipe, however, had sufficient strength left to rise when closely threatened • andttf „ .T” ‘° P '' Cy ' The 
so often, the Hawk working as if desirous of wearing down rather than striking 1 ■ P “ £omumo ° was repeated 
conclusion he would make no attempt to take any prey while it was aide t ° hls ™tim, that I came to the 
m Norfolk, although I seldom passed a “ ™ g ' 
one or more coming under observation, I have never been able to r^d “ “ 
