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ASH-COLOURED HARRIER. 
reddish on the second, which colour predominates 
towards the outside, and on the outer pair the 
bars are nearlj' pale yellowish orange ; the belly, 
vent, under tail, and wing coverts are pure white, 
the grey of the breast being gradually blended into 
the white of the remaining lower parts ; the 
feathers on the body and thighs of these parts are 
boldly marked with reddish brown along the 
shafts, diverging in the centre as an unfinished 
bar, while the axillary plumes are crossed with 
broad bars of the same colour ; these markings 
vary in distinctness and intensity, and in some 
specimens contrast beautifully with their pure 
white ground colour ; the bill is bluish black ; the 
legs yellow, stronger and scarcely so long as in the 
Common Hamer ; length is sixteen and a half 
inches. 
The chief distinctions between this bird and the 
male Common Harrier are its small size, the much 
greater length of the wings, which exceed that of 
the tail, and in the specimen before us, from the 
shoulder to the extremity of the third quill mea- 
sures fourteen inches ; and in the lower parts 
being streaked and barred with reddish brown. 
The description of the female Harrier, were 
the dimensions and proportions similar, might 
serve also for this bird. Our specimen is in length 
about eighteen and a quarter inches ; the wing 
from the shoulder to the extremity of the third 
