20 FALCONID.E. 



male of a beautiful greyish -blue colour, whilst the plumage 

 of the female is composed of various shades of dark brown ; 

 also considerably exceeding the male bird in size ; it has been 

 distinguished as a separate species by the earlier writers on or- 

 nithology, under the appellation of the ringtail hawk. Nearly 

 similar to the marsh harrier, this species selects the more ele- 

 vated heathy sides of the mountain for its habitation ; where, 

 although smaller in size than that bird, it exhibits more deter- 

 mination in its habits, and is perhaps the most falconine of 

 its family in pursuing the prey which it has started. Search- 

 ing for food at a later hour than any of the hawks, the hen 

 harrier is repeatedly observed at twilight circling and search- 

 ing over the fallows as minutely as the owl ; hunting in pairs, 

 each bird selects a separate beat, traversed so correctly that, 

 observing the birds passing a particular place, by returning 

 at the same time on the succeeding evening, the bird is cer- 

 tain to occur to our observation.* In some instances, similar 

 to the peregrine in determined daring, it has at times for- 

 feited life by its fearless audacity. An old sportsman once men- 

 tioned to me the annoyance he had received, before the intro- 

 duction of the double-barrelled gun, by birds of this species 

 watching him when engaged snipe-shooting, and instantly, 

 on the bird falling, seizing his prize before he could obtain 

 it ; and yet so watchful were they, that no approach was per- 

 mitted until the gun had been discharged ; however, after 

 they had experienced the effect of a double-barrelled gun, 

 the remaining birds changed their tactics, and left the snipe- 

 shooter to himself. 



Breeding amidst the heath of the Wicklow mountains, we 

 have, on a few occasions, observed blue hawks, as they are 

 commonly denominated, whilst skimming closely and ra- 

 pidly over the heath in search of prey. One sent to Mr. Glen- 

 non for preservation was shot whilst carrying off a water-hen. 



Indigenous. 



SPECIES 19 MONTAGU'S HARRIER. 



Circus cineraceus. Selby. 

 Buzard Montagu. Temin. 



THIS extremely rare species has only occurred in two in- 

 stances in Ireland, one of which was shot near Bray, and the 

 other at the Scalp, county of Wicklow. The stomach of the 

 last specimen contained the remains of frogs. Smaller and 



* Fennell. 



