54 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



MONTAGU'S HARRIER. 



CIRCUS MONTAGU I. 



Clamhan luch. 



ON the western mainland this is certainly the rarest of the 

 Harriers. It is quite possible, however, that from its strong 

 general resemblance to the preceding species it may have been 

 overlooked. Yet, judging from the comparative numbers sent to 

 the city taxidermists for preservation no mean criterion it falls 

 greatly short of the hen harrier a fact scarcely to be wondered at 

 when we take into account that it is a southern species in its 

 geographical range, inclining eastwards as it recedes from the shores 

 of England. Those I have seen from west country moors were 

 mostly females and young males. 



In September, 1867, I observed, as I believed, this species on 

 one or two occasions on the islands of North Uist, Benbecula, and 

 South Uist, where opportunities were afforded me of contrasting 

 the flight of the two together. Montagu's Harrier appeared to me 

 to be a wilder and more impulsive bird, and, from its lightness, to 

 be quicker in its movements dashing sometimes impetuously to 

 the ground, not heavily, like the common harrier, then rising with 

 a sudden bound to some height, and again pouncing in a straight 

 line on its prey. When flying over a tract of country it may be 

 distinguished, too, by its different flap of wing and general move- 

 ments, which are more buoyant than those of the shorter winged 

 bird. 



The late James Wilson of Woodville, in his "Voyage Round 

 Scotland," mentions having seen a specimen of this bird, which 

 had been shot in Caithness, in the museum of Mr E. S. Sinclair, 

 surgeon in Wick; and I find the species mentioned by the late 

 Charles St John, who states in his " Tour in Sutherland," vol. i., 

 p. 122, that "it breeds near Bonar Bridge, Mr Dunbar having 

 taken the nest and killed the old birds in that district." 



In Thompson's " Birds of Ireland " it is stated that a specimen 

 of Montagu's Harrier was obtained near Ballantrae in Ayrshire 

 in 1836. 



