324 Mr. W. O. Aikin on the Ash-coloured Harrier. 
ornithologists should not adopt his description throughout. It however 
agrees exactly with two young ones which J have at present alive, excepting 
that the irides of mine are of a deep hazel ; they are about two months old, 
and are kept in a garden with young ones, of about the same age, of 
both the other Harriers; these differ so materially from their companions 
that they could never be mistaken by a person who has once seen them; 
first, their size is so much less, then the deep rust colour which pervades 
their whole plumage and the absence of the ruff of smal! feathers round 
the head at once distinguish them from the common Hen-Harrier. I 
find them much wilder than the others, and the male when disturbed is 
continually uttering a short shrill call while the others are silent unless 
actually laid holdof. They all strike with their talons, not using their bills 
till their feet are secured. 
I had an opportunity of weighing and measuring the birds in my own 
collection, the particulars of which are as follows : 
A male killed 17th June, weighed 92 ounces troy. Length 172 inches, 
Breadth 34 feet. In the crop were five Lizards in fragments, 
the tails only being perfect. 
A female killed 17th June, weighed 103 ounces, troy. Length 184 inches. 
Breadth 3 feet, 64 inches. 
A female killed 19th June, weighed 9} ounces, troy. Length 173 inches. 
Breadth 3 feet, 9 inches. Tail 9} inches. Three of the ova 
were as large as marbles, there were also a great many smaller 
ones. 
A female killed Ist July, weighed 84 ounces, troy. Length 17 inches. 
Breadth 3 feet, 9 inches. Tail 9 inches. 
If these remarks are considered worthy your notice, and the young birds 
live, I shall be happy to furnish you with any other memoranda which 
I consider curious during their change of plumage. 
I remain, Sir, 
Your’s, &c. 
W. O. AlKIN. 
Cambridge, 
23rd July, 1830. 
