J16 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



and at intervals reiterating the cry I have endeavoured 

 to describe above. 



Conscious of the wary nature of these birds, still and 

 solid as a rock I lay, intently watching, as a wrecker 

 might be supposed to do, the shifts aud writhings of a 

 doomed vessel approaching inevitable destruction. 

 After a few uncertain circlings, it evidently settled 

 beyond a little piece of rising ground. Instantly 

 divesting myself of unnecessary weight, I hurried to 

 the spot. When about half-way thither, the bird rose 

 as I expected, but made towards me, rising higher on 

 the wing at every stroke. When within range I fired 

 and killed, to my no small satisfaction, a magnificent 

 female hen harrier (Falco cyaneus). Returning for my 

 collecting-box (no cenotaph to-day ! thought I), I was 

 in the act of consigning her to its depths, when that 

 cry, shriller and more sustained, heralded the male 

 bird making his appearance from the same direction. 

 I studiously recommenced the stalk, but this time my 

 position was more exposed, and it was impossible to 

 improve it without a very prominent and injudicious 

 detour. My only chance consisted in remaining 

 perfectly still in the position I then was. This I did, 

 arid I watched him, and doubtless he watched me with 

 still greater vigilance and caution. 



It now became most deeply interesting to watch his 

 plan of operations. At one time soaring to a dizzy 

 height; then scouring in wider circles the adjacent 



