Part 27

THE SCOPS OWL Scops giu (Scopoli)

A migratory species, wintering in Abyssinia and Northern Africa, and breeding in Southern Europe, the Scops Owl has occurred as a straggler to our islands a good many times. The general colour is grey, barred and vermiculated with brown; it has two conspicuous ear tufts. The female slightly exceeds the male in size. Length, male, 7·5 in.; wing 5·8 in.

THE EAGLE OWL Bubo ignavus, T. Forster

This large and fine species has been obtained several times in England and Scotland, but though some of the instances are undoubtedly those of genuine wanderers, it is so often kept in captivity that several occurrences must be looked upon as those of escaped birds.

It is widely distributed throughout the wilder districts of Europe, both in forest and open country, from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean.

The general colour is dark brown, mottled with brownish buff above, and yellowish brown streaked with darker below. The female is larger than the male. Length of male 24 in.; wing 18 in.

THE GRIFFON VULTURE Gyps fulvus (J. F. Gmelin)

A single immature example of this species was taken in the spring of 1843, in Cork Harbour. The nearest breeding place of this species is in the Pyrenees, and thence eastwards it occurs throughout Southern Europe. The sexes are alike and their general colour is buffish brown; the head and neck are devoid of feathers but covered with buffish down, which is separated from the feathers of the neck by a broad ruff. Length 42 in.; wing 28 in.

THE EGYPTIAN VULTURE Neophron percnopterus (Linnæus)

This is another South European species of which two examples have been obtained, one in Somersetshire and one in Essex.

The adult is white with black primaries, the head and neck being bare of feathers and yellow in colour. The young bird is dark brown and does not acquire its full plumage for three years. Length 26 in.; wing 19 in.

THE MARSH HARRIER Circus æruginosus (Linnæus)

Formerly this species used to breed regularly in many places in England, where large stretches of marsh-land suitable to its habits were to be found. A pair or two may occasionally still try to rear a brood in East Anglia, but owing to the drainage of the fens, it is no longer known in any of its former haunts. In Ireland, where it was formerly fairly common, its breeding area is restricted to one locality. To Scotland it has always been an extremely rare visitor. On migration small numbers of this species visit England and Wales yearly. The nest is a fairly substantial structure, built of reeds and grass, and placed on the ground. The eggs, which generally number five, are pale bluish white without any other markings.

In plumage this species varies greatly according to age; the adult male is dark brown on the back, head creamy white with dark streaks, wing coverts and tail silvery grey; primaries blackish. Under parts buff streaked with brown. In the female the tail and under parts are brown. Young birds are chocolate brown; the entire crown of the head is buffish white in the males, but in the females the nape only is yellowish. Length (of males) 21 in.; wing 16 in.

THE HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus (Linnæus)

In England, thanks to the game-preserver, this species is now extremely scarce, and very few pairs, if any, are allowed to nest. In Scotland and Ireland, where it was formerly fairly plentiful, it is fast decreasing in numbers. On migration it is still not uncommon in the north, and the passage of stragglers through England is of yearly occurrence, but very few remain to spend the winter in any part of this country. It frequents large open moorlands, which, like all Harriers, it regularly quarters in its search for food. This consists of young birds, rats, mice, and frogs or lizards. The nest is made of roots, heather, and plant stems, and the eggs are bluish white, often faintly spotted with reddish brown.

The adult male is slate grey with white rump and white under parts, the throat and breast being bluish grey. The female and young are brown above with the exception of the rump, which is white; tail brown with five dark bars, whence the name "Ring Hawk," which is applied to the females and young of this species. Length 21 in.; wing 15 in.

MONTAGU'S HARRIER Circus cineraceus (Montagu)

Although the commonest of our British Harriers, this species is nevertheless exceedingly scarce and local. It is a migrant, arriving towards the middle of April, and in some of the open moorlands and fenny localities in the south and south-east of England a few pairs yearly attempt to breed.

The sight of this grand bird, as it quarters the ground backwards and forwards in search of food, is an exquisite pleasure to the true naturalist, but in spite of the protection afforded by law, it is ruthlessly destroyed, either by the gamekeeper or the collector of British killed specimens, whenever seen. In habits it closely resembles the Hen Harrier. It nests on the ground, and its bluish white eggs are, as in the case of that species, often speckled with rusty red.

The upper parts, throat, and breast of the male are slaty grey; the hinder parts white, streaked with rufous on the flanks. Tail feathers greyish with five rusty red bars on all except the middle pair. The female, who is slightly larger than the male, is brown above and buff streaked with rufous below. The young resemble the female but are much darker below. Length about 18 in.; wing 15·4 in.

To Scotland and Ireland this bird is only a very rare straggler.

THE COMMON BUZZARD Buteo vulgaris, Leach

Years ago this species might fairly have been called common in our islands, but the gamekeeper, who has much to answer for in the extirpation of many species, has not failed to wage war on this beautiful bird. If we still want to see him, as he soars round in graceful curves over his forest home, we shall have to journey to the wilder parts of Wales and Scotland, where alone he is still able to hold his own. Over the rest of our islands he is, as a breeding species, no longer extant, though every year a few migrants from abroad seek our hospitality, only to be killed by the first keeper that sees them.

The nest is placed either on a ledge of a cliff or in the fork of a tree, and is a bulky structure of sticks, lined and surrounded with fresh leaves, which are continually renewed as they wither. The eggs, four in number, are bluish white, marked with rusty red near their larger end. Both sexes incubate, and if the nest be approached, circle round and round the intruder with piteous "mewing" note. As far as game birds are concerned, this species is practically harmless, feeding almost entirely on ground game, frogs, and reptiles, so that no one can have any excuse for destroying it.

It is a very variable species; the general colour is dark brown above and below with a whitish band showing longitudinal dark stripes on the breast, but in some individuals there is very much more white. The young bird is usually paler on the upper parts. The female only differs from the male in her slightly larger size. Length about 22 in.; wing 15·5 in.

THE ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD Buteo lagopus (J. F. Gmelin)

The Rough-legged Buzzard, which differs from the Common Buzzard in having the legs feathered to the toes, is a regular autumn migrant to this country, especially in the north and east of Scotland. In some years its numbers are much greater than in others, so that for a time it becomes common even down to the south and east of England. In Ireland it has only been noticed on a few rare occasions.