THE HEN HAREIEE. 



91 



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One of the most notable peculiarities of this strange bird, is the manner in which it 

 runs and walks. While young its mode of walking is ungraceful in the extreme, and 

 can but be characterised as a hobble. When it has attained adult age, however, its gait, 

 although rather odd, and like a person walking on stilts, is yet ea?ry and unconstrained, but 

 when the bird puts forth its speed, it runs with a swiftness so remarkable that the Arab 

 has given it the name of Terras Seytan, or devil's horse. This astonishing speed is 

 probably useful in carrying out the great business of its life, and in attacking or avoiding 

 the onset of its poison-bearing 



enemies. The nest of the Secre- ...^^ ^^ 



tary is built on the summit of a 

 lofty tree, and contains two or 

 three large white eggs. 



The ordinary length of the 

 adult Secretary bird is about three 

 feet, and its colour is almost wholly 

 a slaty-grey. The peculiar feathers 

 which form the crest are black, as 

 are the primaries and the feathers 

 of the thigh. There is a lightei 

 patch towards the abdomen. The 

 tail is black with the exception 

 of the two central rectrices, which 

 are grey with a white tip and a 

 broad black bar towards their ex- 

 tremities. 



We now arrive at the Harriers, 

 probably so called because they 

 " harry" and persecute the game. 

 Several sj)ecies of this genus are 

 found in England, the most com- 

 mon of which is the Hen Hae- 



EIEE. 



The Harrier may be readily 

 distinguished from the other 

 hawks by the manner in which 

 the feathers radiate around the 

 eyes, forming a kind of funnel- 

 shaped depression, somewhat simi- 

 lar to but not so perfect as that 

 of the owl. This structure is 

 thought to be serviceable to the 

 bird in giving it a wide range of 

 vision in its hunting excursions. 

 The flight of the Harrier is very 

 low, seldom being more than a 

 few yards above the ground, and 

 as the bird flies along it beats 



every bush, and pries into every little covert in search of prey. There are few of the 

 smaller animals that do not fall victims to the Hen Harrier, which is always ready to 

 pick up a field-mouse, a lizard, a small snake, a newt, or a bird, and will even pounce 

 upon so large a bird as a partridge or pheasant. Sometimes it sits on a stone or srnal] 

 hillock, and from that post keeps up a vigilant watch on the surrounding country, sweeping 

 off as soon as it observes indications of any creature on which it may feed. 



The flight of the Hen Harrier, although it is not remarkable for its power, is yet very 

 swift, easy, and gliding, and as the bird quarters the ground after its prey, is remarkably 



HEN HARRIER.— Cirtnts q/rifteits. 



