136 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
1 
he up in the line of the Harrier’s flight to their roosting- 
places ; for they always take the same course, and come, even- 
ing after evening, lyithin five minutes of the same time. Upon 
one occasion, a friend and myself killed eleven, and durincf 
that visit accounted for over twenty. We also, on every pos- 
sible opportunity, destroyed the nest and shot the old ones ; 
but it was the labour of Sisyphus, for others immediately ap- 
peared. However, there was a vifiible diminution of their 
numbers about Casas Viejas. We never found rats in their 
nests or crops, and believe that they have not the courage 
to kill them : small snakes, frogs, wounded birds, eggs, and 
nestlings form the main part of their prey.” ’ 
Nest — The Marsh-Harrier is, in many places, gregarious 
during the breeding-season and many nests are found in the 
same vicinity; at least this is the case in Southern Spain 
and Marocco. The nest is made of dead sedge and reeds 
with a few small branches, these being added to from time 
to time. It is occasionally found in a tree, but is generally 
placed in a reed-bcd, sometimes on the ground and among 
low brambles, always near water, but sometimes far from any 
marshes. A disused nest of a Coot or Water-Hen is often 
adopted. 
Eggs.— From three to six in number; pale bluish white, very 
rarely with any pale brown markings. When fresh blown, and 
held up to the light they show a bluish tinge. Axis, i-8-2'i • 
diam., 1-55. 
THE GOS-IIAWKS. GENUS ASTUR. 
Lacep. Mem. de I’lnst. Paris, iii. p. 505 (1801). 
Type, A. palumbarius (L.). 
Although belonging to the long-legged Hawks, the Gos- 
Hawks are much more stoutly built than the Harriers and 
have no facial ruff like the last-named birds. The hinder 
aspect of the tarsus, also, is transversely scaled, and not arti- 
culate or covered with a network of small scales as in the 
Hamers. They comprise birds of all sizes, just like the 
Sparrow-Hawks, many of the latter exceeding the smaller 
Gos-Havks in size. There is. however, one character by 
