2 HEN-HARRIER. 
weather; but one or two nests were most cosily situated in sheltered corries, screened from almost every wind. 
In the eastern counties they frequent the msh-marslies, breeding among the sedges and other coarse herbage. 
I generally noticed that they selected some spot where the cover was from two to three feet high. 
In the summer of 1800, while walking over a moor in the east of Sutherland, I disturbed a Ringtai (the 
female of the Hen-Harrier is known by this name) from her nest, which contained one young one just out of 
the shell and five eggs on the point of hatching. As both the old birds were flying round in a state of great 
consternation, I sat down to watch tlicir actions for a few minutes. On rising to leave the spot, I discovered 
I had laid my gun on the back of an old Grey Hen, who now got up from her nest, in which were three fresh- 
laid eggs, evidently showing that she herself had chosen this apparently dangerous locality for her nursery, as 
the Harriers’ nest was within six or seven paces. This is not the only instance I have met with of game and 
birds of prey being found in close proximity. 
Within the distance of half a dozen miles of the above-mentioned nest I came upon another female sitting 
on eggs. In this instance I approached close enough to obtain a good view of her before she rose. "W hetlier 
fear or anger at my intrusion had caused her to puff herself out to the fullest extent, I am unable to state; 
anyhow her appearance was most remarkable. Her tail was spread and standing almost upright, while the 
plumage on her back was elevated, and every feather on her neck and head on end, the ring round the face 
being particularly conspicuous. After watching her closely for a minute or two, I drew cautiously back to 
obtain my drawing-book, which was in one of the game-bags, in order to make a sketch of her position. On 
endeavouring to approach the second time, she rose at once in the air ; and a subsequent attempt to take her 
portrait met with no better success. Whether this is the usual manner in which the females of this species 
comport themselves while engaged in the work of incubation, I am unable to state from personal experience, 
as I never obtained another chance of judging. 
The Plate, showing the male and nestling, is taken from specimens obtained in Caithness. When first 
discovered, this nest contained five eggs ; but on visiting it a fortnight later I found a single young bird was 
the only occupant, the eggs having most probably been carried off by some Grey Crows which were breeding 
in a steep rock at no great distance. 
The young, when newly hatched, arc covered by a dirty whitish down. The soft parts of the beak and the 
cere, as well as the iris, are also of much the same dull tint. 
