154 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



streaks on under-parts, rufous -brown marks on white thighs, 

 and black bars on secondaries ; and in both sexes white on rump 

 is less in extent and not so pure in colour. Flight, graceful and 

 buoyant, accomplished by three wing-beats alternating with glides 

 on half -raised wings. Cry, a low, tremulous chatter, remarkably 

 feeble for a bird of its size. 



Breeding-habits. — This species where numerous is distinctly 

 sociable in breeding-habits, but in England is not sufficiently 

 common for more than a couple of pairs or so to nest together. 

 Nest. — A hollow in sedgy ground overgrown with rank vegetation, 

 or on moors or downs and at times in cornfields, sheltered by heather 

 and gorse or growing crops. Eggs laid on pad of grasses or rushes. 

 Eggs. — Usually 4, sometimes only 3, or 5 and very rarely 6, bluish- 

 white and generally unmarked, though rarely showing traces of 

 rusty spots. Average of 100 eggs, 41.5x32.6. Max. : 46.5x32.5 

 and 42.5x35.7. Min : 37x30.2 and 41.5x29.6 mm. Breeding- 

 season. — In England about last ten days of May and early in June, 

 but two or three weeks earlier in southern Europe. Incubation. — 

 By female alone beginning with first or second egg laid. Period 

 about 30 days. Single brooded. Fledging -period. — About 32 days 

 (Saunders). 



Food. — Picked up from ground by quick stoop as it hawks low. 

 Chiefly reptiles, amphibians, birds' eggs and birds and mammals 

 taken unawares. Frogs, toads, snakes, lizards, mice, small birds, 

 especially Pipits, Larks, Chats and occasionally Finches, Buntings 

 or Thrushes, as well as young birds, nestlings and eggs of ground 

 building birds. Also earthworms and larger insects, especially 

 beetles. 



Distribution. — England and Wales. — Summer-resident (April to 

 Oct., sometimes Nov.). Nests annually East Anglia. fairly regu- 

 larly in Cambs., Hants., Dorset and Devon, and occasionally else- 

 where, as in Cornwall, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Surrey, Yorks. and 

 Merioneth, and possibly Somerset, Notts, and Northumberland. 

 Scotland. — Pare vagrant ; about seven in southern half of mainland, 

 one of which (June 15, 1881) may possibly have nested in Solway 

 area. Ireland. — Rare vagrant. One Queen's co., one co. Dublin, 

 eleven in or near co. Wicklow, where may possibly sometimes breed. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Temperate portions of Europe and 

 western Asia, also north-west Africa. In winter in Africa and 

 India. Accidental Canaries. 



CIRCUS CYANEUS 



259. Circus cyaneus cyaneus (L.) — THE HEN-HARRIER. 



Falco cyaneus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. xn, i, p. 126 (1766 — Ex Edwards. 



Typical locality : near London). 



Circus cyaneus (Linnaeus), Yarrell, 1, p. 132 ; Saunders, p. 317. 



