Birds of Britain 

 THE HEN HARRIER 



Circus cyaneus (Linnseus) 



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 migra- 

 tion 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 " King 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 



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