
290 BLUE HAWK, OR HEN-HARRIER. 
different appearance which it assumes during its progress 
through the various and extraordinary changes that its plumage 
with a very slender lining. It is sometimes also formed on one of those 
places called scars, or where there has been a rush on the side of a steep 
hill after a mountain thunder-shower ; here little or no nest is made, 
and the eggs are merely laid on the bare earth, which has been scraped 
hollow. Ina flat or level country, some common is generally chosen, 
and the nest is found in a whin or other scrubby bush, sometimes a 
little way from the ground, as has been remarked in the descriptions of 
the American birds. The young are well supplied with food, I believe, 
by both parents, though I have only seen the female in attendance ; 
and I have found in and near the nest the common small lizard, stone- 
chats, and young grouse. 
When the young are perfectly grown, they, with the old birds, leave 
the high country, and return to their old haunts, hunting with reeu- 
larity the fields of grain, and now commit great havoc among the young 
came. At night they seem to have general roosting-places, either among 
whins or long heath, and always on some open spot upon the ground. 
On a moor of considerable extent, I have seen seven in the space of one 
acre. They began to approach the sleeping ground about sunset, and 
before going to the roost, hunted the whole moor, crossing each other, 
often three or four in view at a time, gliding along in the same manner 
as that described by Dr Richardson of the C. Americanus. Half an 
hour may be spent in this way. When they approach the roost, they 
skim three or four times over it, to see that there is no interruption, 
and then at once drop into the spot. These places are easily found in 
the day ; and the birds may be caught by placing a common rat-trap, 
or they may be shot in a moonlight night. In both ways I have pro- 
cured many specimens. 
When kept in confinement, they generally roosted on the ground, in 
a corner of the cage, three or four huddled together ; once or twice I 
have found them perching ; during the day, they rested mostly on the 
ground ; and only when alarmed rose to the cross-bars, I have never 
seen them perch in a wild state. 
Their flight is accurately described by our author ; and when hunt- 
ing in this country, it is performed in the same manner, flying low 
over the ground, beating the brushwood or rough cover, and along the 
hedges. They never take their prey on the wing ; but when pursuing, 
make a slight dash, and follow it to the place chosen for refuge. I 
once shot an old female which had driven a covey of partridges into a 
thick hedge, and was so intent upon watching her prey, that she allowed 
me to approach openly from a distance of nearly half a mile. They 
are often met with about the sea-coast ; and I have seen one repeatedly 
