142 BIRDS. 



Circus cyaneus (L.). Hen-Harrier. 



0.=Kattabelly. 



Probably the commonest hawk throughout the islands. It is not 

 mentioned by name in Wallace's Description of Orkney, but it is 

 most probably one of the species included in the comprehensive 

 term "Hawks," or, more likely still, "Gleds." Low in his Fauna, 

 after remarking that the species is very frequent all the year 

 round, makes the curious remark that, in winter, it is almost 

 white, except the tips of the wings, but in the summer it is more 

 ash-coloured. Dunn, in his Ornithologist's Guide, 1837, makes no 

 mention of the bird, which is strange, but then he takes no notice 

 of the Kestrel, so we must conclude that the omission is an over- 

 sight. Very common in 1848, according to Baikie and Heddle. 



Several appear in a list of birds from the Orkneys, stuffed 

 by Mr. Small, Edinburgh, up to 1885. Buckley met with it not 

 uncommonly in Rousay in 1883, but mostly in the autumn and 

 early winter. In that year the keeper on Rousay shot the male 

 from the only nest he found, the female, strange to say, never 

 coming near it ; this is quite contrary to our usual experience of 

 harriers. A bird seen in November had only partially assumed 

 the adult grey plumage of the male. 



Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes us: "Very common. I had a 

 tame harrier when a boy, which would sit on my shoulder when 

 rabbit-shooting, and jump down to get the brains when a rab- 

 bit was killed. It was not the least afraid of the gun, although 

 originally got by being winged." He also goes on to say : 



"I have kept many hawks of different kinds, and have 

 always considered them the easiest birds to tame, if you know 

 how to go about it. Persistence for a few hours will enable you 

 to make the wildest old hawk sit on your hand and eat from 

 your fingers. I have done so with old birds taken near the 

 nest, both Peregrines and Kestrels. Merlins are somewhat 

 harder, or, at least, take longer time." 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue informs us that the castings of the 

 Hen-Harrier and Kestrel contain, among the fur and small 

 bones of mice, voles, etc., a considerable quantity of the wing- 

 cases and other remains of beetles. Many years ago this 

 gentleman saw an albino Hen-Harrier flying about Melsetter, 



