268 IN BIRD-LAND 



latter part of the eighteenth century and the 

 beginning of the nineteenth, was called by him 

 the Ash-coloured Harrier, but it is now nearly 

 always called after Montagu, himself. 



For a long time, the male and female of the 

 Hen-Harrier were considered to be different 

 species owing to their difference in plumage. The 

 hen was formerly called the Ring-tail, and it was 

 not until Montagu's observations were published, 

 in the year 1802, that it was admitted to be the 

 hen. 



The habits of these two species of Harriers are 

 very similar, though in their distribution the one 

 is found where the other is wanting. The Hen- 

 Harrier, liking higher and less marshy ground, 

 used to be fairly numerous in Scotland and other 

 hilly regions, while Montagu's Harrier was more 

 often met with in the flat parts of the Eastern 

 Counties than its congener, and is practically 

 unknown in the north, except as a very rare 

 visitor to the extreme south of Scotland. 



Owing to the destruction of all Falcons and 

 Hawks by game-preservers, these birds will very 

 soon be things of the past unless a little more 

 protection is accorded them. It must be admitted, 

 that they destroy the eggs of ground-nesting birds 

 during the season, but their principal food is 



