HEN-HARRIERS 141 



describing, while so doing, curiously contorted 

 figures, which are like the coil of a cork-screw, 

 held now perpendicularly, now horizontally. That 

 her nest is somewhere there is certain. Witness 

 the bird's distressed actions. At one time she 

 settles on the ground always a good sign, at the 

 proper season, of a nest ; at another, she flies 

 back and fro at a fair elevation ; and from both 

 positions she chatters repeatedly. Soon the male 

 joins her. He, too, is distraught. Then one or 

 the other drifts across and up the valley, and soars 

 at a fair height. Once, as the female journeys 

 down dale a male Merlin dashes from a heathery 

 bank far up the brae side with lithe, eager, 

 galloping flight, and stoops fiercely and like 

 lightning at his larger relative, who avoids his 

 onslaught with difficulty. Presently both Harriers 

 are back in that hill-side corner, and if you are wise 

 you will visit them ; for, although, in the main, 

 shy, wary birds, they frequently cast caution to the 

 winds, when, as now, near their nest, and will 

 then approach you really closely. The male, 

 indeed, will then constantly come within a few 

 yards (I have actually had one within six feet !), 

 as he keeps on swooping and stooping at you with 

 closed pinions. Each time he charges, it looks as 

 if he meant business, for he only shoots up when 

 within a very short distance of you. His tail is not 

 expanded now, as when he is hunting ; but with 

 widely spread tail the female cuts out circles in the 



