Harrier. RAPTORES. CIRCUS. 69 



dissimilar appearance of the sexes in the adult state, with re- 

 spect to size and colour. The facts, however, adduced by 

 Montagu *, to prove the identity of the two, are clear and 

 satisfactory ; to me particularly so, as the result of my own 

 observations lead entirely to the same opinion. Mons. Tem- 

 MiNCK, also, in his valuable " Manuel," has shewn so little 

 doubt upon the subject, as at once to bring the synonyms of 

 the Hen Harrier and Ring-tail together. 



The species, though not very numerous, is pretty generally 

 found throughout Britain, frequenting low marshy situations, 

 or wide moors. The flight of the Hen Harrier is always low, 

 but at the same time smooth and buoyant, beating its hunt- 

 ing grounds with great regularity, and at stated intervals. 

 It is very destructive to game, which it pounces upon the 

 ground ; it also feeds upon small birds and animals, lizards p^^j 

 and frogs. It breeds on the open wastes, and frequently in j^g^^ ^^. 

 thick furze covers ; the nest is placed on the ground, and 

 the eggs are four or five in number, of a skim-milk white, 

 round at each end, and nearly as large as the Marsh Harrierf. 



The young males, for the first year, are similar in appear- 

 ance to the females, after which they gradually assume the 

 grey plumage that distinguishes the adult. 



It is common in France, Germany, and Holland, inhabit- 

 ing the low and flat districts; but in Switzerland, and all 

 mountainous countries, it is of rare occurrence j. 



Plate 10. Fig. 1. Shews the male bird, in perfect plumage, 

 and of the natural size. 



• See Supplement to Omith. Diet, article Hen Harrier. 



•f- I refer my readers to some very interesting particulars respecting the 

 habits and economy of this species, detailed at considerable length by Sir 

 WiUiam Jardine, in a note to his valuable edition of AVilson's American 

 Ornithology. 



t Some doubts still remain as to the identity of our own and the Ame- 

 rican species. 



