140 THE HEN HARRIER. 



much so as at one time to have been set down as different 

 species. And there are more synonyms of it than any other of 

 the tribe. The general colour of the male is light greyish blue ; 

 the head and scapulars of a deeper tint. The hind part of the 

 back paler ; the upper tail coverts white. The outer six wing 

 quills are black; the outer webs tinged with grey; the inner 

 webs mottled with dark grey. The middle feathers of the tail 

 lighter than the back ; the rest paler, until the outer web of the 

 lateral becomes white. The inner webs of all (but the two 

 middle) white, with eight bars of dark grey. The fore neck and 

 part of the breast are greyish blue, lighter than the back. The 

 middle of the breast, abdomen, and tibial feathers bluish white. 

 The wings are long, broad, and much rounded, two inches 

 shorter than the tail when closed. The tail is also long and 

 straight — nearly even. The bill is bluish black ; the cere and 

 iris yellow ; the tarsi and toes orange ; claws black, long, curved, 

 rounded above, flat beneath, and sharp. The toes are com- 

 paratively small. The tarsi are long and slender, and feathered 

 about a third of their length anteriorly. Length, 18 J inches to 

 end of tail ; extent of wings, 39J inches ; tail, 8J inches. The 

 plumage of the female is softer, and the ruff on the face more 

 conspicuous. The general colour of the back and upper wing 

 coverts are umber brown ; the upper parts of the head deep 

 brown ; the feathers slightly edged with light yellowish red. 

 The bristle tips at base of bill black, like the male. The cheek 

 feathers are dull brown, edged with yellowish red. Those of 

 the ruff, yellowish red. The upper part of the neck and breast 

 are reddish yellow, each feather with an oblong dark brown 

 mark. The quills are umber brown ; inner webs whitish, 

 broadly barred with brown. The upper tail coverts white, with 

 reddish spots. The tail is white for about an inch at the base, 

 deep brown the rest ; the four middle feathers have four brown 

 bands, the rest have five of a reddish tint ; tips reddish white. 

 The lower surface of the primary quills is greyish white, with 

 conspicuous dark bars — hence the name of ring-tailed harriers. 

 In fact, the general colour of the female is much darker than the 

 male. Length, 21 inches to end of tail; extent of wings, 46 

 inches ; tail, 10 inches ; but both male and female vary in 

 length from 17 to 19 inches, and from 19 to 21 J inches. As 

 is generally the case, the young of both sexes of this family 

 resemble the adult female, and, as usual, adults grow lighter 

 in colour with age. The hen harrier has received its name from 

 its real or fancied habit of robbing the domestic hen of her 



