Tue ZooLtocist—OcToBER, 1875. 4657 
any large object on the downs gradually narrowed; then quartering 
would begin again, to be succeeded by more circles, till every one 
might be expected to be the last. Then, perhaps, she would change 
her mind, and go off for another series of wide flights; but when 
the moment came there was no hesitation or hovering, but a sudden 
closing of the wings as she swept over the spot, and she was down 
in so stealthy a manner that, if the eye were taken off her for a 
second, it was impossible to say whether she had settled, or merely 
gone over the brow of the hill again. 
Occasionally I provided her with voles and mice, which were 
doubtless more appreciated than the attentions she received from 
various ornithologists—such, in fact, as few harriers have expe- 
rienced. Besides the finders, there was Mr. E. Hargitt, an able 
but reticent ornithologist, though better known to the artistic world 
for his skill with the brush; Capt. H. Hadfield, whose pen has for 
years past chronicled the fauna of the Isle of Wight in the pages 
of the ‘ Zoologist ;’ and Mr. Harting, well known to the readers of 
these columns—all taking a lively interest in the accouchement of 
the British harrier! We were exceptionally fortunate on the 
occasion of the visit of the latter, as we obtained the best view 
hitherto afforded of the male bird as well as of the female; but my 
hope of showing him the young in down was not fulfilled, for the 
first egg was not hatched until the 21st of June. Of the exact day 
on which this was laid I have, of course, no posilive knowledge, as 
it might have been the last or the first of the original trio; but, 
allowing for its being laid two days previous to the date of discovery 
(viz. the 30th of May) would give twenty-four days for incubation. 
The newly-hatched youngster gave me a fright at first, for on pene- 
trating the inclosure there appeared but one egg in the nest, and 
the shell of the other hanging on a spray of gorse. Nowhere could 
I see any signs of a chick, and I feared that the crows had been 
visitors. However, on my return, there was the little fellow, thinly 
covered with whitish down, seated by the side of the nest. He had 
probably been under a tuft of brake which was just coming up; 
for, in my anxiety to avoid leaving a trail, 1 seldom actually entered 
the inclosure, but contented myself with looking over the bushes. 
The next day the bird was quite lively and pecked at my finger, 
until he found it was not good to eat. He continued to grow rapidly, 
and by the 29th the down on the upper parts had become a pale 
fawn-colour, that on the under parts continuing white; eyes dark 
