4 6 



tail (the female of the Hen Harrier is known by 

 this name) from her nest, which contained one 

 young one just out of the shell and five eggs on the 

 point of hatching. As both the old biids were 

 flying round in a state of great consternation, I sat 

 down to watch their actions for a few minutes. 



On rising to leave the spot I discovered I had 

 laid my gun on the back of an old Grey Hen, who 

 now got up from her nest, in which were three 

 fresh-laid eggs, evidently showing that she herself 

 had chosen this apparently dangerous locality for 

 her nursery, as the Harrier's nest was within six 

 or seven paces. This is not the only instance I 

 have met with of game and birds of prey being 

 found in close proximity. 



As will be seen by the specimens in the case, 

 the eye of the male is a bright yellow ; of the 

 female a warm brown ; and in the young a pale 

 blue. 



When first I found this nest it contained five 

 eggs, but on visiting it a fortnight later there was 

 only a single young bird ; either the eggs or young 

 having been carried off by some Grey Crows, which 

 were breeding in a steep rock at no great distance. 



The whole family were obtained on a moor in 

 the west of Caithness in June, 1868. 



See " Bough Notes," Vol. I., Plate 15. 



MARSH HARRIERS. (IMMATURE). 

 Case 63. 



I have never to my knowledge seen the adult 

 Marsh Harrier in a wild state. 



Immature birds may, however, be observed 

 commonly in the autumn, hunting over the rough 

 marshes and reed-beds that surround the broads in 

 Norfolk and Suffolk. 



