446 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Harrier is quite as rare as either Montagu’s or the Marsh Harrier. With 
regard to the nest being composed of different materials to the one found 
by Mr. Howard Saunders in the Isle of Wight, I think that may be easily 
accounted for: perhaps heath and ferns were more easily obtained on the 
downs where Mr. Saunders found his nest; and with regard to the one 
described by me, which was found on marshy ground, it is very probable 
that rushes and other aquatic plants were to be obtained more easily than 
heath and ferns. I think I am right in saying that the nest of Montagu’'s 
Harrier is found built above the ground as often as that of the Hen Harrier. 
In several works I have by me it is stated that the nests of both species are 
sometimes found in or near whin bushes. ‘The reason Mr. Widdas took the 
single egg, thus causing the bird to forsake the nest, was on account of the 
gamekeeper, who destroys all hawks and hawks’ nests and eggs whenever he 
meets with them. I only know of one other instance of this Harrier breeding 
in Yorkshire, and that is recorded by Mr. Butterfield in ‘ The Zoologist’ for 
1879 (p. 220). Iam always very careful not to jump to conclusions hastily, 
but I think I may safely say it was Montagu's Harrier that bred at 
Stockton-on-Forest, and not the Hen Harrier, as conjectured by Capt. Had- 
field. Since replying as above to Capt. Hadfield’s remarks, I have seen 
Mr. Widdas, who says that “ neither moss nor hair was included in the 
materials used for building the nest.” On referring to my note-book I find 
that moss and hair are mentioned, but this must be a mistake, as the only 
materials used were rushes, flags, grass, &c— Watrer Ratne (Leeds). 
On toe Cry or THE Waite Owi.—The interesting observations by 
the Rev. A. Matthews on the cry of the White Owls so exactly agree with 
mine that I should like to add my testimony to his, as regards the 
improbability of this bird ever hooting like the Brown Owl. In my 
boyhood I had quite as good opportunities as Mr. Matthews for becoming 
familiar with the ery of the White Owl, for when residing at Castle Warren, 
Co. Cork, where these Owls were common, a pair bred every season in a 
disused chimney of the old castle part of the building, and the only call ever 
heard from the old birds was the loud discordant screech emitted by them 
when in flight, as well as when seen standing on the chimney or other parts 
of the building. Since I have come to reside in this part of the country, 
where the White Owl is also common, building in the old ruins of Castle- 
connor and of the Abbeys of Roserk and Moyne, it has come under my 
notice every season, and is frequently seen here in the summer evenings 
beating about the lawn, yet we have never heard any call proceeding from 
these birds save the usual harsh-sounding screech. As additional evidence 
against the probability of the White Owl hooting (at least, in Ireland), 
I may give the experience of my friend Capt. W. K. Dover, of Myrtle Grove, 
Keswick, who was well acquainted with the Brown Owl in its native haunts 
