Details
| Digital Media Bank ID: | 44767 |
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| Original Filename: | dmas_bc207211_d01.jpg |
| Description: |
This bird (which is considered to be a connecting link between the Hawks and Owls) is common on the flat moors in the centre and east of Sutherland, and also over the greater part of Caithness.It may, in like manner, be met with scattered over the country wherever there are large open heaths or furze-covered downs. On two or three occasions I have found its nest in the rushy marshes in the neighbourhood of the broads in the east of Norfolk.As is the case with other species, the immature birds seem to wander more readily from their usual haunts than adults, and are not unfrequently obtained in Sussex and the adjoining counties. It is said to be very destructive to game, but my own observations would lead me to believe that it preys more on small vermin and birds of about the size of the Titlark than on anything larger.In the summer of 1869, while walking over a moor in the east of Sutherland, I disturbed a Ring-tail (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 their 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 Harrier?s 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. As will be seen by the specimens in the case, the eye of the male is a bright yellow; of the female, a warm brown; and in the young a pale blue.When first I found this nest it contained five eggs, but on visiting it a fortnight later there was only a single young bird; either the eggs or young having been carried off by some Grey Crows, which were breeding in a steep rock at no great distance.The whole family were obtained on a moor in the west of Caithness in June, 1868. See {i}Rough Notes{/i} Vol. I., Plate 15.? Edward Thomas Booth, {i}Catalogue of the Dyke Road Museum{/i} (fifth edition, The Brighton Library, Museum and Fine Arts Committee, 1931) p. 45 ? 46. |
| Categories: | Collections/ Natural Sciences/ Chordata/ Birds/ Bird Eggs |
| Credit: | Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove |
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| Licence: | CC BY-SA |
| Caption: | Booth museum hen harrier diorama |
| Type (of Object or Artwork): | taxidermy diorama |
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| Title (of Artwork / Object): | Booth Museum diorama |
| Creator (of Artwork / Object): | E.T. Booth |
| Date Created (of Object / Artwork): | 1870s - 1890s |
| Source (of Object / Artwork): | Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove |
| Subject tags: |
| Media: | Image |
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| Size: | 824.88 KB; 2940 x 1758 pixels; 249 x 149 mm (print at 300 DPI); |
| Orientation: | Landscape |
| Linked Accession no.: | BC207211 |
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| Date Created: | Fri Sep 30 09:30:00 BST 2005 |
