COMMON HARRIER. 231 



we have found them perching, but even during 

 the day they rested mostly on the ground, and 

 only when alarmed rose to the cross bars. We 

 have never seen them perch in a wild state." 



On the English commons or wastes, where 

 these birds also breed, the nest is placed in a 

 situation as near as the locality will admit, to 

 that just described. The cover there is generally 

 furze or whin instead of heath ; and thus Mon- 

 tague describes the nest " composed of sticks 

 rudely put together, was nearly flat, and placed 

 on some fallen branches of furze, that supported it 

 just above the ground/'* Of the nest of the Ame- 

 rican bird, Dr Richardson writes, " The nests, 

 we observed, were built on the ground by the 

 sides of small lakes, of moss, grass, feathers, and 

 hair, and contained from three to five eggs, 

 having a bluish white colour, without spots."f 

 We have never seen more than the above number 

 of eggs ; but Dr Heysham records having seen 

 six in one nest, or seven in another.^ Temminck 

 plc^ces this species in his list of European birds 

 which he has received from Japan. 



The adult male has the upper parts bluish grey, 

 passing into blackish grey on the centre of the 

 back, and to pearl grey on the throat and breast ; 

 quills black, with pale tips ; tail, pale blackish 



* Diet. Supp. t Northern Zoology, II. 55. 

 t Hutchinson's Cumberland. 



