230 COMMON HARRIER. 



we have found in and near the nest, the Common 

 Lizard, (L. agilis,) stone chats, and young 

 grouse. 



" When the young are perfectly grown, they, 

 with the old birds, leave the high country, and 

 return to their old haunts, hunting with regularity 

 the fields of grain, and now committing great 

 havock among the young game. At night they 

 seem to have general roosting places, either 

 among whins or among long heath, and always 

 on some open spot upon the ground. On a moor 

 of considerable extent, I have seen seven in the 

 space of one acre. They began to approach the 

 sleeping ground about sunset, arid before going 

 to the roosting place, hunted the whole moor, 

 often three or four in view at a time, crossing 

 each other, and gliding along in the same manner 

 with that of the C. Americanus, described by Dr 

 Richardson. Half an hour maybe spent in this way. 

 When they approach the roosting place, they skim 

 three or four times over it, to see that there is no 

 interruption, and then at once drop into the spot. 

 These places are easily found during the day, 

 and the birds may be caught by placing a com- 

 mon rat trap, or they may be shot in a moon- 

 light night. In both ways we have procured 

 many specimens. 



" When kept in confinement, they generally 

 roosted on the ground in a corner of the cage, 

 three or four huddled together ; once or twice 



