MONTAGU'S IIAKKlEll.
frequently remarked that their presence caiisnl far less uneasiness to the Itedlogs ami Peewits tlian that of
the Moor-lluzznrd: this fact might lead In the belief that they were not deslruelive to (lie offspring of
these birds ; it is, however, possible that their flight while skimming over the marshes, being more rapid, does
not attract the same amount of attention. A Marsh-Harrier often remains for a quarter of an hour or twenty
niiniiles hunting liaekwards and forwards over an aero of rushes and sedge, swooning down repeatedly to
the surface, while the present species, as a rule, passes onward without turning to the right or left, only
pausing for a fen moments when the capture of prey appears inevitable.
The drainage and cultivation of swamps and fens have much restrictisl Ihe distribution of these Harriers;
their numbers also have been thinned down by gamekeepers, and their eggs removed to supply the demands
oT collectors; as yet, however, they are by no means exterminated, and a few pairs still succeed, at not
uufrcipient intervals, in rearing their young in some of the most inaccessible of their old haunts. Some
fourteen or fifteen years ago. when in quest of this s]>ccics, 1 fell in with several pairs in the eastern counties;
having been misled, however, by a statement (from a well-known sportsman whose chances for observation,
one would suppose, ought lo have rendered bis remarks reliable) that this Harrier exhibited no white over the
ruuip, I allowed I tic females on two occasions to rise unmolesied from their nests without attempting
to obtain specimens. The males resolutely refusing to permit a sulheieiitly close inspection lo identify their
plumage with certainty, I was led to believe that all observed in the district were Hen-Harricrs; not
needing specimens of that species, little attention was paid to either birds or nests. If the females of
the two species are closely examined it will he seen that though the white baud at the boo of the tail
of C. rijinii'iii is decidedly broader, a distinct white line is apparent at the roots of the feathers on
C. ciHcraceiw; this marking is especially conspicuous as the bird spreads its wings to rise from the
ground. The warm brown streaks and the general tint of the flanks, which come well into view as the
bird mounts in the air, ought to have proved a sufficient guide, had I been better acquainted with the general
colouring of the females.
Various means of distinguishing Moutaeu's Harrier fiom its relative have Ixreu pointed out by writers
on natural history; the plates, however, in several works indicate plainly that little attention could have
been paid to the specimens from which the sketches were taken. The rulf or frill round the head is by
no inenns so perfect as in the Hen-llarrier; still it is represented in the drawings given by several authors
as continued prominently below the beak. Maeglllivray tells us that " t h e rutr is obscure," and again
remarks that " t h e rutf is obsolete;" though somewhat singularly worded, these remarks are evidently
intended to convey the impression that the ruff or frill is imperfect. The head of the male represented
in the small woodcut in Vnrrell differs from all others that I have seen figured, but agrees precisely in
the extent of the ruff with specimens I have examined in the flesh, the frill being entirely Wanting on
the throat below the beak. The same author also informs us that " t h e third quill feather of the wing
is much more pointed " than in the Hen-llarrier; this also accords in every instance with the measurements
1 have taken from fresh-killed birds. I am enabled also to add that this leather in Montagu's Harrier
is considerably longer than the second and fourth. The third and fourth were found to be almost
equal in length in several specimens of the Hen-llarrier that came under my observation when taking
notes on the two species; the fourth, however, is usually allowed to he slightly the longest. My attention
has also lately liccn drawn by a friend to another method for distinguishing the species. In Montagu's Harrier
the second, third, and fourth primaries only are emarginated on the outer web, whereas in the Hen-llarrier
the ein argil) at Son * is carried on from the second to the fifth primary inclusive.
MONTAGU'S H A R R I E R .
While still in the down the youngsters of this species differ greatly from those of the Hen-Harrier;
shortly aTter hatching they exhibit a dull white down, which, as the bird increases in size, assumes a warm
red tint. This colour fades considerably after death, but never approaches the dirty white or dull leaden
hue which pervades the down on the nestlings of C. ci/a/irnn.
The colouring of the soft parts of a female and brood obtained on the 3rd of July, 18*1, may bo
deaarfbed as f o l l o w s f e m a l e : iris pale warm hazel, with bright yellow ring rouad the pupil, pale yellow
ring round eyelids; tips of upper and lower mandibles black, merging gradually into a pah: blue slate
towards the cere, which was bright chrome-yellow ; legs and feet deep chrome, claws black. Young ; beaks
black at the tips, continuing a dark horn up to Ihe cere; cere yellow, iusido of mouth a pale flesh-tint ;
the skin between the base of the b-nk and the eve showing up through the bristles a livid date-tint; iris
dark hazel, a pale yellow ring round eyelid; legs and feel Naples yellow, claws horn.
This brood consisted of three young birds and one egg, two of the youngsters being much alike in
size, though one was rather more advanced and stronger; these both exhibited a warm red blush on the
down. The third juvenile was much smaller and weaker, its naked skin being barely covered by a scanty
white down. The manner in which this tiny mite sought repose was most singular, the head, with its
scraggy neck fully extended, being curled up under the body. At times, when rolling about uneasily,
it would elevate its legs above the bare wing-joints, and scratch violently with the claws at the back
of its head. The two larger birds now and then fought viciously, but speedily became reconciled and
nestled down together. When awaiting their food, ono would occasionally seize the distended crop of its
companion, and endeavour to tear away a portion with its sharp hooked beak; the flesh showing red through
the down and bearing a certain resemblance to raw meat, in all probability led to Ibis mistake. After
remaining in captivity for about a fortnight, the whole family, though taking their food with aridity in
the first instance, gradually became weaker, in spite of the most careful attention, and dropped oil' ono
by one. Doubtless the brood were taken far too young to bo successfully reared; the food also (the flesh
of small birds sliced up raw) with which they were supplied was probably unsuitable.
I carefully measured the eggs taken from a couple of ncsls of Montagu's Harrier during the summer
of 1SS.1, ami discovered they were considerably smaller than those tigured on the plates in a recently
published work on Uritish birds ; one clutch were especially round and small, and proved to he Ihreo
sixteenths of an inch less in length.
I t is many years since I had an opportunity of examining n nest of Ibis species placed among
fnr/e, and the composition of those that came under my notice has entirely dipped my memory. For a
couple of seasons, about five and twenty years ago, 1 procured eggs which must have belonged to this
species on an extensive stretch of furze, known in the district as the " horthy Ibid," near Cat.sfield, In
the east of Sussex. One or two of the birds were shot by the keeper, who termed them Hana-Busaards : the
size of the eggs, however, which remained in my possession for sume lime, plainh indicated tl.e s p i u Leu
compared with those of the Heu-Horrier taken In the Highlands ; the nature of the country in which the nests
were placed would also leave little doubt on the subject. In the fen- and broad-districts the cradle is very
simply constructed, consisting merely of a seanfy collection of the dead and dried steins of the surrounding
rushes and grasses scratched together without Ihe slightest attempt at neatness.
I t is mentioned in several wurks thai this species occasionally exhibits a darker tint on the colouring of
the plumage. During the summer of lssti, I carefully examined a fresh-killed male, shot in one of the
eastern counties in the vicinity of his nest, that showed a dark tint on the back and wings; there were
also several feathers or un ash-brown, intermixed with the shilc-grev of the remainder of Ihe plumage.
Whether this bird was one of the dark variety, or only too young to have assumed the perfectly mature dress, 1
had no means of ascertaining: I remarked that he contrasted greatly with a fine adult male frequently