C.H.BENTHAM,L.B.MOURITZ: HEN-HARRIER. 239 



metropolis, and moreover in a county in which g-ame- 

 preserving- is extensively carried on. 



There is some evidence in support of the supposition 

 that Hen-Harriers nested in Surrey during- 1906, as a pair 

 were on more than one occasion observed in the locality 

 where the nest was discovered the year following- ; two 

 young birds also being- seen on the wing- near the same 

 place, towards the end of Aug-ust, 1906. 



In 1907 the species was noticed for the first time on 

 March 27th, when a "Blue Hawk " and "Ring-tail " were 

 seen in company. Sometime during April, however, the 

 female met with the usual fate, being shot by a game- 

 keeper, and shortly after this unfortunate occurrence the 

 male evidently went in search of a fresh partner, and was 

 not again observed in the neighbourhood until May 20th, 

 when he was found to have settled down in the original 

 haunt with another mate, and on the day following we 

 were fortunate enough to discover the nest. This was 

 situated amongst a thick growth of tall heather, and 

 within about twenty yards of a little-used cart track. It 

 was a slight structure, composed of dry grass, reeds, and 

 a few heather-stalks ; but as incubation advanced a con- 

 siderable quantity of material was added, as will be seen 

 from the accompanying photograph (Fig. 1), which was 

 obtained when the bird had been sitting- for about three 

 weeks. 



When the nest was discovered on May 21st, there were 

 three apparently nearly fresh eggs (although we after- 

 wards ascertained that it originally contained the full 

 complement of four), but visiting- the locality on June 8th, 

 we were much annoyed at discovering that only two eggs 

 remained, another having mysteriously disappeared, but 

 whether a Carrion-Crow — of which there are a good number 

 in the neighbourhood — or some egg-coUector was respon- 

 sible for this depredation, it is difficult to say. Fortunately 

 the bird did not forsake the remaining eggs, from which 

 two healthy nestlings (Fig. 2) were subsequently hatched, 

 and during July and August we had the pleasure of 



