BIRDS. 143 



and the same autumn he read in a newspaper that such a bird 

 had been killed near Thurso. Mr. Spence found these birds 

 most numerous in the parish of Orphir, and in 1882 obtained 

 altogether eight specimens of their eggs in that district. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue sends us the following notes : 



" I have over and over again seen grouse, snipe, and other 

 birds rise from under a Hen-Harrier, the latter making a spas- 

 modic sort of endeavour to drop down on the bird, but never 

 making even really a dash, much less the least attempt at giving 

 chase. A Hen-Harrier flying over a swamp will put all the 

 snipe out of it. Grouse and all other birds rise as the harrier 

 comes along, while a Peregrine or Merlin, on the other hand, 

 causes the birds to sit close. I do not believe a harrier can 

 catch any bird that is not asleep or incapable of flight. I have 

 found the remains of half-fledged grouse in their nests, but their 

 principal food is the common vole, and on account of the num- 

 bers of this animal which they kill, I think they should be 

 preserved." 



" The Hen-Harrier is sometimes called the ' Goshawk ' by the 

 Orcadians, hence mistakes may arise ; these birds are much 

 scarcer in winter." 



"In 1887 there were several nests (near Swanbister), usually 

 there are not above two, on the Ward Hill of Orphir. But, 

 although I wished them left alone, I think few young birds 

 escaped. The old birds took one or two chickens, which I 

 would gladly have replaced to save the hawks, and people, con- 

 sequently, killed the young birds and took the eggs." 



" In a nest containing from three to five young birds, no two 

 are of the same age, and there must be nearly a fortnight or 

 so between the oldest and the youngest. The first hatched, 

 no doubt, help to hatch the remaining eggs, while the parents 

 are off hunting." 



Mr. Harvey informs us that the Hen-Harrier does not breed 

 in Sanday. 



Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us (1888) that not more than 

 two pairs of Harriers breed in the whole of Hoy. There were 

 two nests at Swanbister in 1888, but both were harried, to Mr. 

 Irvine-Fortescue's sorrow, as he likes to see the birds on his 

 ground. In the same year there was a nest in Rousay. 



