42 FALCONIDJS. 



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. ^Nbt unfrequently 

 he accompanies the sportsman, keeping carefully out of shot, 

 and pouncing on the birds which he startles from their 

 cover, killing them, and carrying them off to be devoured in 

 retirement. He preys exclusively on animals killed by him- 

 self, destroying a great quantity of game, young hares and 

 rabbits, wild ducks, snipes, plovers, and rats. It is a gener- 

 ally-diffused bird, by no means so common as the Kestril 

 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 recognised 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 nattish nest of sticks, just raised above 

 the ground, in a heather, or furze-bush, and lays three or 

 four eggs. 



MONTAGU'S HARRIER 



CIRCUS MONTAGUI. 



Wings a little longer than the tail ; third primary longer than tin 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. Fe- 

 maleupper 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. 



THIS bird, which is of rare occurrence in Britain, resembles 

 the Hen Harrier very closely, both in appearance and 



