‘The Common Buzzard frequents the more cultivated plains and oe in England, and the very
wildest parts of Scotland. In the former it is decidedly a oe of sylvan habits, delighting in the more ex-
tensive chases and parks where there is abundance of aged mney or in the tracts which oH bear the name
of forests—in the latter, frequenting the alpine districts, and breeding on the edges of Hite ravines Cae which
they are so abundantly intersected. In either case, the nest is built of large SHELS, with a scanty lining of
00 or hair, the site an aged tree or some ledge of rock ; the eggs, three or four in number, of a rounded
form, bluish or greenish white, with pale brown blotches and spots or streaks most crowded at the thicker
end. Inits habits it is sluggish and inactive, or rather it appears to be so; the flight is heavy, but buoyant,

and when hunting it is performed in low sweeps, during which it surveys the ground and pounces on any

living thing which may attract its attention. It never attempts to secure its prey by pursuit on the wing.
Its teen consists of almost everything—the smaller Mammalia, such as mice or moles, the young of game or
moorland birds, frogs, toads, &c. It has been often described as watching from an eminence or decayed
tree, thence sweeping down on the prey when discovered, and for this purpose remaining for hours in one
situation; we have never seen it so employed, and have always considered its long stationary perches as the
result of repletion, and as a resting-place after the exertion of hunting and feeding ; and we have known the
same station taken up day after day, and hours spent in a motionless doze. On quitting this perch, and
during the season of incubation, the flight is slow and majestic—the bird rising in easy and graceful gyra-
tions, often to an immense height, and uttering occasionally its shrill and melancholy whistle. At this time,
to a spectator beneath, and in particular lights, they appear of immense size; the motions of the tail, when
directing the circles, may be plainly perceived, as well as the beautiful markings on it and on the Wings,
which are sometimes rendered very distinct by the body being thrown upwards, and the light falling on the
clear and silvery tints of the base of the feathers. The Buzzard is a fine accompaniment to the landscape,
whether sylvan or wild and rocky. In confinement it becomes very familiar, is easily tamed, and as easily
kept.”

Mr. Thompson states, in his ‘ Natural History of Ireland,’ that the Buzzard “is generally to be found in
suitable localities. Specimens are procured at all seasons of the year in the more extensive and best-wooded
demesnes in Down and Antrim. In such haunts the Buzzard builds in trees; but in the retired and moun-
tainous parts of the country, where not a tree is to be found, it is equally at home, and forms its nest
in the cliffs.” The bird had also come under his notice ‘at Rosheen Mountain, near Dunfanaghy,
at Magilligan in Londonderry, at the headlands above the Giant’s Causeway and those near Carrick-a-rede
in Antrim, in the cliffs at the Knockagh Mountain near Carrickfergus, and other places.”

‘During incubation,” says Mr. Macgillivray, * the male brings food to the female, and sometimes takes
her place on the eges. The young are at first covered with whitish down, and, after leaving the nest,
are assisted by their parents until able to shift for themselves. Mr. Hepburn informs me that it hunts
the fields in a wavering direction, often turning and twisting, about a dozen or sixteen feet from the
ground, dropping down on the unsuspecting mouse, and seizing the unwary bird perched on the hedge.
So far as I have seen, it does not come near the dwellings of man in search of its food. Besides
devouring mice, the Buzzard is of great service to the farmer in driving off the Ring-Doves from the corn.
Here you may see them feeding in flocks, often comprising as many as 000, and sometimes above 1000.
He is accused of killit

g game, and suffers accordingly ; but the gleanings are not left to maintain game
alone, being shared by mice and small birds, and yet the poor Buzzard is shot when endeavouring to fulfil
one of the great ends for which he was created, namely, setting bounds to their increase. When will our
senators see the error of game-laws, and the moral evils they inflict upon the lower orders ? Not till then
will the farmer and nurseryman experience the full benefit of our Rapacious birds.”

Independently of Central Europe, over the whole of which jt is dispersed, it is nowhere more numerous
than in Africa: Captain Loche states that it is found in all parts of Algeria; Dr. Ruppell saw it every-
where in the north-eastern parts; Dr. Heuglin mentions that jt is occasionally seen in Egypt during
winter ; and the Rev. William Scott brought examples from Madeira, whither he states they frequently fly
over from Africa. In India Mr. Jerdon shot the specimen he describes in his work on the birds of that
country, and saw several others on the Neilgherries, and remarks that it has also been found in Nepaul
and Sikim, but it appears to be a rare inhabitant of the hilly regions of India.

Richardson and Swainson state, in the * Fauna Boreali-Americana,’ that this bird
countries of America: but the example they have figured must have re
have no reason to believe that it is ever found in America,
published list of the birds of that country.

also inhabits the fur-
ference to some other species ; for I
and it is not included in Dr. Baird’s recently

The figure is about two-thirds of the natural size.