tion, cream-coloured head, and grey tail and secondaries, 
which contrast strongly with the black primaries. The hen- 
harrier breeds only in the Orkneys and the Outer Hebrides. 
It is distinguished by its grey coloration and pure white 
rump patch. Montagu’s harrier is a somewhat smaller bird, 
and has black bars on the secondaries. In flight it is more 
graceful and buoyant than its relatives, and this is accom- 
plished by three or four wing-beats, alternating with a long 
glide on half-raised pinions. It, again, nests annually in East 
Anglia, thanks to protection. 
There remains but one other bird of prey to mention 
here, and this is the sparrow-hawk. It may be easily recog- 
nized during flight by its short, rounded wings and long tail. 
The female, which is much larger than her mate, has the 
under parts distinctly barred. The breast of the male is 
similarly marked, but the bars, being of a pale rufous, or 
rust colour, and much narrower, are less conspicuous. It 
has a very rapid and gliding flight, just above the ground, or 
along hedgerows, which it scours in its search for small birds. 
There may be many who will fare forth to find the harrier 
on the wing. If they succeed they will indeed be fortunate. 
But there is one bird that most certainly will be seen in the 
“harrier country,” and that is the heron. There can be no 
mistaking him. He may be found, a large, grey bird, standing 
contemplative, knee-deep by the river’s margin, or in some 
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