MARSH-HARKIER — HEN-HARRIER. 
109 
relates its occurrence at a village or hamlet situated in the vicinity of that town. 
The bird had, it seems, taken possession of a chimney of a small cottage or 
tenement, to which spot, no doubt, it had repaired for security and safety.” The 
late ]\Ir. E. Widdowson, who was evidently the friend alluded to, wrote me : — 
“ Once saw one at Derby, in a cage, alive ; had come down a chimney and was 
caught.” 
I have inserted this note to prevent confusion, and so that the bird may 
be referred to its proper county. Writing to IMr. Harting for any particulars 
which might throw light upon the identity of this specimen, he very kindly 
replied ; — 
“ The bird above referred to is evidently the Derby specimen recorded by 
J. J. Briggs, ‘Zoologist,’ 1844, p. 645. It should be observed that Briggs calls 
his bird Strix passerina* and not Athene noctua. The two species are perfectly 
distinct, and it is most likely that the bird in question was Athene noctua. As it is 
clear that it was taken (as Briggs says) ‘ in or near Derby, I think in a chimney,’ 
it will not, I presume, find any place in your catalogue.” 
Order ACCIPITEES. 
Family FALCONID^. 
jMAKSH-HARRIER. Circus airuginosus (Linnaeus). 
“ Moor-Buzzard.” 
Mr. Babington (Supplement ‘Potter’) wrote : — “ One killed and another seen 
at Buddon Wood, in 1841, by the keeper of Gr. J. D. Butler Danvers, Esq.’’ 
Harley said Adams told him that he used to take it in his vermin traps very 
frequently before the enclosure of the Forest (1811), and that “the species used 
to be met with more recently about the wild, gorsy land lying above Whitwick, 
called the ‘ Waste,’ ” from whence he had seen specimens brought, but, even in 
his time, it was growing rarer. 
HEN-HARRIER. Circus cyaneus (Linnaeus). 
“ Blue Hawk.” 
3Ir. Babington (Appendix ‘Potter,’ p. 66) recorded one as seen at Thringstone 
in 1841 ; and Harley said that he once winged a Partridge in barley-stubble, 
and, on the Dog attempting to retrieve it, the “ Blue Hawk ” carried it away, 
notwithstanding the discharge of the gun and the shouts of the bystanders. 
He further stated, on the authority of Adams the keeper, that it used to nest 
in Charnwood Forest regularly before the enclosure, as also in other parts of the 
county. 
* “It is doubtful if titrix 2Msserina of Linnseus has ever occurred in England.” 
