Spain, but personally I never knew of more than three
or four nests in close proximity: these nests are generally
placed upon bare ground in small open spots amongst
low vegetation in the dry marshes, or amongst the
standing corn; we never found one in the reed-beds that
are so dear to the Marsh-Harrier. A few dry twigs or
pieces of reed-stem, with a lining of sedge, are the usual
nesting-materials. The eggs are white with a very slight
greenish-blue tinge, and occasionally show a few pale
rust-coloured spots; four is the usual complement. I
feel certain that the male bird occasionally takes his
turn at incubation.
The dark brown or black variety figured in one
of my Plates is by no means uncommon : I have at
this time of writing, November 1898, a very fine
living specimen of this race received during the past
summer from a nest in Prance; in this individual
the irides are very nearly as dark as the pupils, and
exhibit a marked contrast in this respect to those of its
companion of the same species but of the normal type
of plumage, whose irides are pale yellow.
This Harrier, according to Yarrell, has a wide range,
and has been recorded as occurring in Caithness, Ceylon,
the Canaries, and China. I have frequently observed
this bird from the train whilst travelling through Prance
in the summer months. I was assured by the late
John Barr that he took several Montagu’s Harriers near
Chalons-sur-Marne with the trained Palcons belonging
to the Champagne Hawking Club, during his term of
service as falconer to that society. A few of the present
species spend the winter in Andalucia.