MONTAGU'S H A R R I E R.
CIRCUS CIKERACEUS.
THE numbers of IIeii-Harriers that formerly resorted to the neighbourhood of Bonar Bridge and the
moors stretching from the north of Loch Shin towards Ren Armine and the adjacent lofty mountains
probably led to the statement that this species frequented the district. During the years spent in the north
1 traversed this locality on several occasions, meeting with many pairs of Harriers and inspecting their nests
and y o u n g • ; though every bird that came in view was examined with the utmost care, not a single specimen
of Circus chieracL'tts could he detected. I have only observed this species in the southern and eastern
counties of England; according to my own experience il evinces a partiality for cither furze-clad downs or
rough and uncut rush-marshes, the nature of the country in which it is found differing considerably from
the stretches of «ild moorland that form the favourite haunts of the Hcn-Harrier.
On many of the anreclalmed marshes in the east uf Norfolk, rushes and other rank herbage are grown for
litter, frequently remaining uncut for one or more seasons, by which means a heavy crop (termed "double
whale" in the district} is obtained; the docks and lofty thistles, with the endless varieties of tangled marahplants
and coarse grasses that flourish on the moist portions of the ground, render these flats almost
impenetrable. "Where the soil is occasionally Hooded, or swamps and slades are slill uudrained, the common
reed (PhwigmUe* CIUUIUIIH'IH) springs up in prolusion, rearing its feathery heads above the dense undergrowth.
To such spots these birds usually resort in this locality; though occasionally straying while on Ihcir
rounds in search of prey to the drier marshes as well as the hills round the broads, it is only under
the shelter of reeds or rushes that they attempt to rear their young. "When breeding where the rush
(Jmiriis ghtucus) grows thick and strong, I remarked at times that the bare patch on which the nest is placed
was exceedingly small, the surrounding cover leaving barely snlliciont space for the bird to spread its
wings. "Within a short distance other similar spots were occasionally found; these, the marshmen declared,
were the roost big-pi aces of the male: one such station, evidently frequently used, was pointed out below
an old furze bush on a marsh-wall about otic hundred yards from Where the female was sitting ; here the
grass was trampled down, and many feathers, doubtless plucked out while the bird was dressing lis plumage,
were scaltercd around.
Though many opporl unities for watching these Harriers have fallen to my -bare. I atn eiiabl - ,1 |.j -late
little or nothing from personal observation concerning the nature of their prey. Vipers, lizards f, mice, insects,
and large moths J are supposed by the marsh men to constitute n considerable portion of Ihcir food. I
• During ray tut yi«it to llicsc parts 1 aKcttiunnl tint ! ! • USSlil luid SJMttJ drttcucd in numbers,
t " Wipers" iniil " Kaifls" wire Ihe nanit» given by the notices to these reptilti.