HEN-HARRIER. 137 



under surface of the middle tail-feathers strongly marked 

 with broad bands of brownish-black and dull white; the 

 outer feathers on each side greyish- white, with four darker 

 transverse bars ; the legs and toes yellow ; the claws black. 



Examples of this species are occasionally found of a more 

 or less uniform dull black colour. One such in the col- 

 lection of Dr. de Montessus is recorded by MM. Degland 

 and Gerbe, and another by MM. Jaubert and Barthelemy- 

 Lapommeraye. 



In reference to our Harriers a writer in ' The Naturalist ' 

 for 1837 (p. 314) remarked that some difference had been 

 observed in the relative length of the quill-feathers: in a 

 female the fourth quill-feather being the longest ; in a male, 

 the third. This notice is here adverted to in order that the 

 relative length of the different quill-feathers in the wings, 

 when referred to in description, or as affording indications 

 of distinction in species, may not be too much relied upon 

 without having due regard to the period of the year at which 

 the birds were killed. In this country particularly, a large 

 proportion of our cabinet specimens are obtained in autumn, 

 the gun being then in general use, and during that period 

 the quill -feathers will frequently be found not to have 

 attained their ultimate relative proportions. 



The vignette represents the head of the Ringtail, as men- 

 tioned above. 



VOL. L 



