130 BRITISH BIRDS. 
nest and is fed by the male. The number of eggs is usually five ; but four 
and six are often found. 
The Hen-Harrier is a bolder bird in the pursuit of its food than the other 
two British Harriers, and undoubtedly often chases its prey on the wing. 
It catches small birds, mice, frogs, but does not disdain to make a meal 
off the eggs of its neighbours when it has the opportunity. The graceful- 
ness of its flight and the ease with which it can skim over the brow of a 
hill make it a favourite with the ornithologist, in spite of an occasional 
young grouse that may fall a victim to its prowess. 
The eggs of the Hen-Harricr are bluish white, like those of the other 
two British Harriers, and are on an average intermediate in size between 
those of the Marsh and Montagu’s Harriers. They vary in length from 
1°8 to 1°65 inch and in breadth from 1°5 to 1-4 inch. It is unfortunately 
impossible to distinguish them from exceptionally small eggs of the Marsh- 
Harrier, or from very large eggs of Montagu’s Harrier. 
The adult male Hen-Harrier is a very beautiful bird, of a delicate pale 
slate-grey colour, with black primaries and with the upper tail-coverts and 
the whole of the underparts below the centre of the breast pure white. 
Cere, irides, and legs yellow; bill bluish black, claws black.. The female, 
which is a slightly larger bird, has the general colour brown, paler below, 
and streaked with reddish brown ; the upper tail-coverts are white, faintly 
marked with rufous ; tail dark brown, broadly barred with buffish brown, 
and tipped with pale buff. 
HEN-HARRIER’S NEST. 
