FALCON ID.4?. 



307 



THE hen-harrip:r. 



Circus cvaneus (Linnaius). 



The Hen-Harrier frequents higher and less marsliy ground than 

 the preceding species, and although it undoubtedly used to breed in 

 the fen-district of Eastern England before the spread of drainage 

 and agricultural improvements, it was probably not common there ; 

 Montagu's Harrier being often taken for it. Of late years its num- 

 bers have been so far thinned by game-preservers that it is now only 

 to be found nesting on a few of the wildest and most extensive 

 moorlands and wastes in England and ^\^aIes. Even in Scotland, 

 where it was formerly numerous, it is rapidly decreasing as a breeding- 

 species ; but in autumn young birds are sometimes very abundant, 

 while the adults also come down from the moors to the lowlands 

 and the male attracts especial attention, owing to his pale grey 

 plumage. These remarks apply equally to Ireland. Few — and 

 those old birds— are to be met with in any part of the British Islands 

 during the colder months of winter. 



In Norway, Lapland, and Northern Russia, the Hen-Harrier is 

 found in summer about as far north as lat. 69°, though rare near 

 that limit; and it is only south of 62' that it becomes at all 



