132 



ACCIPJTRES. 



FALCONID.E. 



FALCONID^E. 



Circus cyaneus (Linnaeus*). 



THE HEN-HARRIER. 



Circus cyaneus. 



The decided difference in colour between the males and 

 females of most of the Harriers when adult is a subject now 

 well understood; but in no species is it more conspicuous than 

 the present. The old male, from his almost uniform ash-grey 

 colour, as seen in the figure, is often called provincially the 

 " Dove-Hawk," "Blue Hawk" or " Miller," and by the more 

 general name of Hen-Harrier. The female, or " Ringtail," 

 as will appear from the description at the end of this article, 

 is entirely different ; and a representation of the head of 



* Falco cyaneus, Linmuus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 126 (17'36). 



