MONTAGU’S HARRIER 149 
Harrier ; but after the first moult, the males assumed the grey and 
white plumage, while the larger birds, the females, retained the 
gayer colouring, and the latter was the Ringtail. In habits both 
birds resemble the Marsh Harrier, but do not confine themselves 
to damp places. They frequent open plains, hillsides, and inclosed 
fields, hunting a few feet above the surface of the ground, and 
beating for game as skilfully as a well-trained spaniel. The moment 
that the Harrier sees a probable victim he rises to a height of twenty 
feet, hovers for a moment, and then comes down with unerring 
aim on his prey, striking dead with a single blow, Partridge or 
Pheasant, Grouse or Blackcock, and showing strength not to be 
expected from his light figure, and slender, though sharp talons. Not 
unfrequently he accompanies the sportsman, keeping carefully 
out of shot, and pouncing on the birds, killing them, and carrying 
them off to be devoured in retirement. He preys exclusively 
on animals killed by himself, destroying a great quantity of game 
small mammals, birds and reptiles. It is a generally-diffused bird, 
by no means so common as the Kestrel and Sparrow-hawk, but is 
met with occasionally in most countries of Europe and Asia, and 
in various parts of the British Isles. It is far from improbable 
that this bird may frequently be seen, without being recognized as 
belonging to the Hawk tribe; indeed, the beautiful form and 
light blue and white plumage, might cause it to be mistaken for a 
Gull. It builds a flattish nest of sticks, just raised above the 
round, in a heather, or furze-bush, and lays four to six eggs. 
MONTAGU’S HARRIER 
CIRCUS CINERACEUS 
Wings a little longer than the tail; third primary longer than the fourth and 
second ; upper plumage bluish grey; primaries black, secondaries with 
three transverse dark bars ; lateral tail-feathers white barred with reddish 
orange ; under plumage white, variously streaked with reddish orange. 
Female—upper plumage brown of various tints; under, pale reddish 
yellow, with longitudinal bright red streaks. Beak black; cere deep yellow; 
irides hazel; feet yellow; claws black. Length seventeen inches. 
Eggs bluish white. 
Tus bird, which is of rare occurrence in Britain, resembles the 
Hen Harrier very closely, both in appearance and habits, although 
it is smaller and more slender, and the wings are longer in pro- 
portion. On the Continent, especially in Holland, it is more 
frequent. It received its name in honour of Colonel Montagu, 
who was the first to ascertain the identity of the Hen Harrier 
and Ringtail, and to separate the present species from both. 
