116 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 
Mr. Hart had two other Marsh Harriers brought to him,and another in 
1872, so that, though uncommon, they are not yet unknown amongst 
us. Their real home, however, would seem to be in the South-East 
of Europe, where they are said to abound in numbers. 
Circus Cyaneus, “The Hen Harrier.” On coming to this species, 
with its mate, the “ Ring Tail,” I can speak from personal obser- 
vation, as scarcely a winter passes without its visiting our parish. 
I have noticed the male bird, in its adult grey plumage, and still 
oftener the female quartering our fields for its prey in its own 
methodical fashion; and once, when out shooting, J saw one of 
these birds carry off a partridge from the field in which I was, in 
the early part of September. Last winter a fine Ringtail flew over 
my head, on the Odstock Road, and settled on a hurdle, about eighty 
or ninety yards from me, and not long ago a Ringtail was picked 
up near here, on a fallow. It had been dead some little time, and on 
being skinned was found to have flown off with twelve shots in its 
body ; but it was in sufficiently good condition to admit of its being 
preserved. In the winter of 1873-4 a fine male bird in full plumage 
was seen by one of the farmers of this parish regularly for some weeks 
running, every Sunday, as he drove to Church, but rarely on any other 
day. This may seem a strange fatality, (but with many other similar 
instances) can be accounted for, from the greater quietness of the fields 
and country which allows them on that day to issue forth from their 
hiding-places with a greater feeling of security. My parishioner 
was very interested in birds, and he did all he could to procure it, 
both by trapping, and lying in wait for it. But it was too wary 
for him, and succeeded eventually in leaving the neighbourhood in 
safety, after a prolonged sojourn amongst us, with its mate, for 
several weeks. They are frequently to be met with also on the large 
downs between this and Cranbourne Chase, and without doubt 
occasionally breed there; and, owing to the great gorse covers which 
are to be found on many of our downs, they seem likely, I think, to 
hold their own amongst us, better than most other of our larger 
birds of prey. I remember also on another occasion seeing a fine 
adult Hen Harrier quartering a turnip field, near Wokingham, in 
Berkshire, which first attracted my own and my friend’s attention 
