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- 

 pUshed 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 



lOI 



