so PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



them graceful; and, if slow, powerful? "Cowardly," or "sneaking," 

 is applied to his mode of obtaining food, but to place such words 

 before " Eagle " would be to insult majesty (1), though perhaps 

 not always exempt from such failings either. It is true as regards 

 the Buzzard, as with some of the " noble " birds of prey, that, 

 where food is abundant and easily obtained, they will take the 

 lazier, and perhaps surer way of securing it ; but, on the other 

 hand, where food is scarce, the birds are driven by hunger to 

 search more diligently for it. In Sutherland, at all events, the 

 Buzzard does not deserve such contemptuous epithets. Mr Yarrell 

 says : " Mr Macgillivray gives the Buzzard a character for greater 

 acti^dty in Scotland, as observed by himself; but the nature of 

 the country may be the cause of the difference in habits, and much 

 greater exertion may perhaps be necessary to ensure a sufficient 

 supply of food."* 



There is great irregularity in the time of laying of this species, 

 which is more observable in some seasons than in others. I have 

 taken and obtained during the same season fresh, or nearly fresh 

 eggs, as early as the 23d April, and others fresh, or nearly so, as 

 late as the 17th May; these last being from a part of the country 

 where I was certain no Buzzards' eggs had been taken before in the 

 same season. One nest of three eggs, blown with small holes, 

 was sent to me, which my correspondent took on the 28th May. 

 In the same season I obtained eggs early in May, which were 

 in a far-advanced stage of incubation. A similar irregularity as 

 regards time of laying, independently of second broods, I observed 

 in the Peregrine Falcon, one of the species that is usually most 

 regular in its time for laying. Tlie species I have found most 

 regular in tliis respect are the Merlin and the Hen Harrier, and, 

 with the above exception, the Peregrine Falcon. 



Mr Hewitson, when speaking of the number of the eggs of the 

 Common Buzzard, says—" Three or four in number." Sufficient 

 stress has not been laid upon the undoubted fact, that in some 

 districts, many species lay fewer eggs than in otliers, owing to the 

 nature, or the scarcity, or abundance of their food. In Suther- 

 land I have never upon any occasion taken, seen, or heard of, 

 more than three eggs in the nest of a Buzzard, and two are 

 nearly as common. On the other hand, four eggs are a common 



* 4( 



Britiah Birda, 185G," Vol. i., p. 77. 



