3l8 HEN-HARRIER. 



last-named country. From March or April until autumn it is to be 

 found in suitable localities in Denmark, Holland, Germany, &c., 

 down to the Alps and the Carpathians. In France — where from its 

 abundance on migration in November it is called Biisard Saint- 

 Martin — a few breed on the high ground, down to the Pyrenees ; 

 while a fair number nest in the north of the Spanish Peninsula, as 

 well as in Italy. Throughout the basin of the Mediterranean the 

 Hen-Harrier is chiefly known on passage and in winter, when it 

 visits Morocco, Algeria, and North-eastern Africa as far south as 

 Abyssinia. Eastward it is found across Asia, except Kamchatka, 

 up to a little above the Arctic circle (though rare beyond 60° N.) in 

 summer, and down to Canton in winter. Over the northern half of 

 America it is represented by a closely-allied species, C. hudsonius. 



When placed on a bare hill-side the nest is often a slight struc- 

 ture, though, if in deep heather or a dried-up marsh, it is frequently 

 a mass of roots and plant-stems a foot high ; while in Germany a 

 grain-field is a favourite site : whence the name Korn-weihe. The 

 4-6 eggs are bluish-white, exceptionally with genuine yellowish-brown 

 markings or even bold rusty blotches : measurements i"8 by i"45 

 in. Incubation, which devolves upon the female, seldom commences 

 before the latter part of May, and lasts three weeks. Like other 

 Harriers, this species quarters the ground with great regularity in 

 search of the small mammals, birds and reptiles which form its food ; 

 but, though destructive to game, there is no evidence that it is — or 

 ever was — an especial scourge of the poultry-yard, as might be 

 inferred from its trivial name. The flight is particularly buoyant, 

 and often low ; the light-coloured rump being very noticeable when 

 the bird is soaring or hovering. 



The adult male has the upper parts pale slate-grey ; rump white ; 

 throat and breast bluish-grey ; remaining under parts white. In 

 younger males there are five ashy bars on the tail, and brown streaks 

 on the flanks, thighs and nape. Cere, irides and legs yellow. Length 

 19 in., wing 13-5 in. The female is brown above, streaked with 

 white on the nape and on the edges of the distinct facial ruff; rump 

 white, marked with rufous ; tail brown, with five darker bars — whence 

 this sex was formerly called the Ring-tail, and was considered a 

 distinct species ; under parts buffish-brown, with darker stripes. 

 Length 21 in., wing 15 in. The young resemble the female, and 

 have, like her, brown irides, but their plumage is more rufous in tint. 



In this and the preceding two species — and, I believe, in all 

 except Montagu's and the Pallid Harrier — the outer webs of the 

 primaries to the 5th inclusive are emarginated. 



