4496 THE ZooLoGist—JUNE, 1875. 
Montagu’s Harrier in Hampshire.—Several years ago a gentleman sent 
me a hawk, a splendid little fellow with its pale dove-like back, and prettily 
marked belly and thighs, but at that time I was totally ignorant of its 
name or value, but I have since discovered that it was a small male 
Montagu’s harrier. It was obtained on a heath near here, close to the 
borders of Dorset, where a pair had built the previous summer. One day 
in May, 1871, I was in the meadows searching for larve of the scarlet tiger, 
not far from the river, when I saw a large hawk flying towards me, and it 
settled upon an elevation at no great distance,—so near, in fact, that I could 
see its plumage very distinctly. Next day I was in the meadows again, 
looking out for the stranger, which I had supposed was a hen harrier; then 
and for several consecutive days its presence was to me a source of pleasure. 
I then lost sight of it for a week or ten days, when a gamekeeper brought a 
bird which he had trapped whilst in the act of eating a leveret, which I 
have every reason to suppose was the specimen I had previously observed, 
and it proved to be a female of Montagu's harrier. Since then I have seen 
several others, especially males, at the birdstuffers’ in neighbouring towns, 
and during the spring of 1874 I was highly gratified at seeing two, if not 
three pairs, in the New Forest, where the species undoubtedly breed 
most seasons, although I have never heard of the eggs being found; 
but I have reason to believe that a nest of eggs which a dealer 
bought of a gipsy a season or two ago as that of the hen harrier, was 
referable to this closely allied species: in fact, I may speak positively 
of young birds having been taken from some of the moors a few 
seasons ago. Many an hour have I spent upon the extensive heaths and 
moors of the forest searching for the nest, and have on several occasions 
seen one or more of the birds, and the season of 1874 was an exceptional 
one, as the following facts will prove :—One evening, early in May, I was 
in the forest on the look out for “‘ anything,” when I chanced to see a pair 
of hawks, which, although at a considerable distance, I could easily see were 
harriers of some species, from the pale colour of the male. I remained 
quietly for a long time hid amongst some furze bushes, and the birds at 
last came near enough for me to see that the male at least was a Montagu, 
and I have not the least doubt the larger and darker bird was his mate. 
I was naturally very anxious, if possible, to obtain an indication of the site 
of their nest, or probable nesting-place, by watching the movements of the 
birds; in this, however, I was disappointed. The flight of the bird is very 
graceful, almost reminding one of the swallow, so light and easy does it fly, 
and seems to have none of those dashing movements similar to the 
peregrine; in fact, we well know that such an impetuosity is an impossibility 
with the harrier, for its wings are very long, but its weight is altogether 
small for its size,—hence its light and aérial motions. In its manner of 
hunting it much resembles what I have read of the habits of the hen 
