BLUE HAWK, OR HEN-HARRIER. 299 
lars, and, with the feather-shafts, blackish; beneath, white, 
slightly cream-coloured on the breast; the belly, flanks, and 
lower tail-coverts with small arrow-shaped spots of yellowish 
rusty ; the long axillary feathers are crossed with several such 
spots, taking the appearance of bands; the upper tail-coverts 
are pure white; the primaries, dusky blackish at the point, 
edged with paler, and somewhat hoary on the outer vane; at 
base, white internally and beneath. The tail is altogether of 
a paler ash than the body, tipped with whitish, and with a broad 
blackish subterminal band; all the tail-feathers are pure white 
at their origin under the coverts, the lateral being sub-banded 
with blackish and white on their inner vanes, and the outer on 
the greater part of the outer web also; the shafts are varied 
with black and white. 
The hen-harrier’s favourite haunts are rich and extensive 
plains and low grounds. Though preferring open and cham- 
paign countries, and seeming to have an antipathy to forests, 
which it always shuns, it does not, like the ash-coloured harrier, 
confine itself to marshes, but is also seen in dry countries, if 
level. We are informed by Wilson, that it is much esteemed 
by the Southern planters, for the services it renders in prevent- 
ing the depredations of the rice-birds upon their crops. Cau- 
tious and vigilant, it is not only by the facial disk that this 
bird approaches the owls, but also by a habit of chasing in the 
morning and evening, at twilight, and occasionaily at night, 
when the moon shines. TF alconers reckon it among the ignoble 
hawks. Cruel, though cowardly, it searches everywhere for 
victims, but selects them only among weak and helpless objects. 
It preys on moles, mice, young birds, and is very destructive to 
game ; and does not spare fishes, snakes, insects, or even worms. 
lis flight is always low, but notwithstanding, rapid, smooth, 
and buoyant. It is commonly observed sailing over marshes, or 
perched on trees near them, whence it pounces suddenly upon 
its prey. When it has thus struck at an object, if it reap- 
pears quickly from the grass or reeds, it is a proof that it has 
iissed its aim ; for, if otherwise, its prey is devoured on the spot. 
