BLUE HAWK, OR HEN-HARRIER. 
21 
timid birds of its own genus, compelling them to quit 
its favourite haunts, which it guards with a vigilant 
eye. They build in the bifurcation of trees. The nest 
is broad and shallow, lined internally with moss and 
feathers. The female is stated to lay four or five 
eggs ; the nestlings at first are covered with down of 
a reddish-gray colour. 
The African species is said to diffuse a musky odour, 
which is retained even after the skin is prepared for 
the museum : but we are inclined to believe, that it is 
in the latter state only that it possesses this quality. 
Mr Peale did not observe any such odour in the bird he 
shot, but being obliged, for want of better food, to make 
his dinner of it in the woods, found it not unpalatable. 
3 . FALCO CYANEUS, BONAP BLUE HAWK, OR HEN-HARRIER. 
BONAPARTE, PLATE XII. 
As will be perceived upon a slight inspection of 
our long and elaborate list of synonyms, [printed 
at the end of the volume,] this well known species 
is found in almost every part of the globe ; and not 
only does it seem to have been considered every where 
distinct, but nearly every different appearance which 
it assumes during its progress through the various 
and extraordinary changes that its plumage undergoes 
according to sex and age, has in each country given 
rise to a nominal species. At the same time, however, 
that names were thus inconsiderately multiplied for 
one bird, two, really distinct, were always confounded 
together. Analogous in their changes, similar in form 
and plumage, it was reserved for the acute and ingenious 
Montague, to point out the difference, and establish the 
two species by permanent characters. The new one 
was called by him Falco cineraceus , and is known by 
the English name of ash-coloured harrier. It is figured 
and accurately described in all its states of plumage by 
Yieillot, in his Galerie des Oiseaux , where he has 
dedicated it to its discoverer, calling it Circus Mont agui ; 
thus fully apologizing for having, in his article Buzzard , 
