The Common Harrier. BIRDS. The Australian Harrier. 
263 
easy, and performed apparently with hut little labour, 
so that it is admirably adapted for the peculiar mode 
of seeking prey adopted by the bird, as already de- 
Fig, 102. 
scribed, which often necessitates its being on the wing 
for hours together. Its prey consists of small mam- 
malia, such as young rabbits, leverets, rats, and mice, 
The Common Harrier (Circus cyaneus). 
tlie smaller birds, and reptiles ; upon these it pounces 
down suddenly when it spies them amongst the herbage 
on the ground, and its courage and strength are such 
that it does not hesitate to attack a partridge or grouse, 
and has even been known to seize upon a pheasant. 
Sometimes, but rarely, it will pursue birds upon the 
wing, probably when they rise from under its stoop. 
The nest of the Harrier is usually placed upon the 
groimd, and rudely built with a few small sticks and 
pieces of coarse grass. In this primitive cradle the 
female deposits four or live eggs, which are of a white 
or very faint bluish colour. 
THE MARSH HARRIER {Circus ccruginosus), which 
is also frequently termed the Moor Buzzard, is another 
British species, rather larger than the preceding, the 
male usuallj' measuring twenty-one and the female 
twenty-three inches in length. It is pretty generally 
distributed in this country, but by no means common 
in any locality ; it occurs all over the continent of 
Europe, in the north of Africa, and in Asia as far 
as India. In its habits it agrees very closely with 
the common Harrier, but it is said to prefer preying 
upon aquatic birds — whence probably its name of the 
Duck Hawk — and also occasionally to capture fish. 
MONTAGUE’S HARRIER {Circus cineraceus), a third 
British species, is a little smaller than the common 
harrier, from which it may also be easily distinguished 
by the great length of its wings, which reach quite to 
the extremity of the tail. The difference of colour in 
the two sexes is as great as in the common species. 
In this bird the radiating feathers of the face are more 
distinct than in the two preceding species, giving it 
a still more owl-like aspect, but the habits of the birds 
are precisely similar. 
THE INDIAN HARRIER {Circus Swainsoui), which 
is found abundantly in many parts of India, presents 
a considerable resemblance in its habits to its English 
relatives, which, indeed, are also met wdth in the plains 
of Hindostan. It rarely perches on a tree, but fre- 
quents open places and cultivated ground, beating over 
the corn fields, and preying upon lizards, locusts, and 
mice, or occssionally on small birds. 
THE BLACK AND WHITE HARRIER {Circus mela- 
noleucos), another Indian species, frequents low, marshy, 
and inundated districts, feeding, in company with 
w'ading birds, on frogs, mollusca, and even on fishes. 
THE AUSTRALIAN HARRIER {Circus assimilis), 
which is nearly allied to our Marsh Harrier, is an 
abundant species in New South Wales and the south- 
ern part of New Holland ; it also occurs, though less 
numerously, in Van Diemen’s Land. In its habits it 
resembles the Marsh Harrier, evincing a great par- 
tiality for marshy grounds and the vicinity of lagoons. 
Its prey consists of reptiles, and small mammalia and 
birds. Amongst the colonists this bird is known as 
the Swamp Hawk. 
