280 
COMMON HARRIER. 
we have found in and near the nest, the Common 
Lizard, (Z. agilis,) 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 regularity 
the fields of grain, and now committing great 
havock among the young game. At night they 
seem to have general roosting places, either 
among whins or among 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 roosting place, hunted the whole moor, 
often three or four in view at a time, crossing 
each other, and gliding along in the same manner 
with that of the C. Americans, described by Dr 
Richardson. Half an hour maybe spent in this way. 
When they approach the roosting place, 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 during the day, 
and the birds may be caught by placing a com- 
mon rat trap, or they may be shot in a moon- 
light night. In both ways we have procured 
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 
