856 On the Ornithology of Wiits (Falconide]. 
very widely both in size and colour: the male, to which alone 
the title of Hen Harrier was originally given, was so named from 
its supposed liking for fowls ; it was also called the “ Blue Hawk,” 
and “‘ Dove Hawk,” from its pearl-grey colour: the female bore the 
title of Ringtail, from the bars of dark and light brown so conspi- 
cuous in her tail: in habits and haunts this species very much 
resembles the last, but it oftener leaves the marshes and fens in 
which it delights, for commons and moors, and breeds in the thick 
furze covers on the open wastes. Itissaid to bea great destroyer of 
game, and to beat its hunting grounds with great regularity and 
at stated intervals, crossing them in various directions, day after 
day, and at the same hour of the day. It is still to be met with in 
Wilts, though like its congener yearly becoming scarcer. Mr. 
Marsh has a pair in his collection, which were killed in Clarendon 
Park in 1823, and states that though not uncommon near Salisbury, 
he never sees them in the neighbourhood of Chippenham. Mr. 
Stratton often sees them on the downs above Lavington, and thinks 
it probable they breed every year in the gorse near him, but as the 
gorse is being taken up, the bird will soon be driven away. On 
the same downs Mr. B. Hayward has shot three specimens in ‘one 
day, at a clump of trees, called Ashington Pennings, and another 
was killed at Market Lavington by Mr. Stage. 
“ Montagu’s Harrier,” (Cirews Montagui.) So called from the 
worthy ornithologist whose residence in this county we are proud 
to boast, who did so much for Natural History, and who devoted so 
much attention to the genus we are now considering. In gratitude 
for his indefatigable researches, and in compliment to his acute 
discrimination, which unravelled the confusion prevailing among 
the Harriers, and ranged them under three species, which the 
diligent investigation of half a century has since proved to be 
correct, the ash-coloured Harrier (as he himself named this species, 
which he first discovered to be distinct from the two others,) has 
been named by all the continental authors “ Circus Montagui” and 
“Te Busard de Montagu, ” and by our own “ Montague’s Harrier.” 
It may be distinguished from its congener, the Hen Harrier, with 
which it had hitherto been confused, and to which it bears a great 
