MARSH HARRIER. 
241 
and feet yellow ; the claws sharp, but not strong 
in proportion to the size of the bird, and not much 
curved, (see fig. 2. of woodcut, p. 226.) A female 
measured about twenty-three inches and a half ; 
a male scarcely twenty inches. The usual length 
of the first is from twenty-two to twenty-four 
inches, of the latter from nineteen to twenty. 
Mr Gould, in his beautiful “ Birds of Europe,” 
has figured a bird as the adult state of the Marsh 
Harrier, which, if he is correct, shews a curious 
change of plumage. He is of opinion that all the 
specimens generally killed in this country are 
young birds, that the species is very long in 
attaining maturity, and that it breeds while in 
the young state of plumage. The bird which he 
has figured as in perfect livery, has the head, 
neck, and breast pale, with white markings to 
the feathers ; the shoulders, secondaries, and tail, 
of the delicate pale grey common to the male of 
the Hen Harrier and Ash-coloured Harrier, 
while the under parts, particularly the lower, are 
tinted more with rufous. Mr Gould mentions 
having received it from Himmalaya. 
