212 Miscellaneous. 



mestication ; the pheasant will ally with the cock ; the last with the 

 turkey, with which the hoccos born in the domestic state will also 

 unite. It appears, in fact, very possible to produce mongrels from 

 the major part of those Gallin<e which are susceptible of domestica- 

 tion*." 



The latter remark receives strong corroboration from the facts we 

 have adduced in this paper ; and we believe that a hybrid progeny 

 between the guinea fowl and common fowl is now for the first time 

 made known to naturalists. The fact derives its peculiar interest 

 from the remoteness of the genera which have thus produced an in- 

 termediate variety. — Ibid. 



On the Habits of the Honey Buzzard in Confinement. 

 By Gordon Jos. Forster, Esq. 

 The Honey Buzzard now in my possession was wounded in the 

 wing, and taken about three months ago. It was at first confined 

 in a small garden-house, and for a day or two refused to eat any- 

 thing, but at last began to feed upon small birds, but would not 

 touch raw flesh or any kind of ofFal, nor has it yet done so, although 

 it has not the smallest objection to a rat or a frog. Many birds of 

 prey, after eating the muscular parts of any animal or bird, leave 

 the entrails untouched ; the Honey Buzzard, on the contrary, gene- 

 rally begins by opening the carcase, and then devouring everything 

 it finds within it. It is very fond of the honeycomb of the wild bee, 

 and when hungry will swallow large pieces of the comb containing 

 the grub or larvae, but when its appetite is not very keen it usually 

 separates the cells, extracts the grub, and throws the wax away. 

 There has been little honey in the combs this year, but when per- 

 chance any has dropt from the cells upon the ground, I have seen 

 the bird repeatedly thrust its bill into the earth, where it appeared 

 to be moistened by the honey. Unless very hungry it will not at- 

 tempt to tear open a large bird, but is exceedingly fond of a fresh 

 herring. There is something capricious in the appetite of birds, 

 as well as in that of the human race. I had an eider duck for three 

 years, and during that time it never could be prevailed upon to 

 taste shell-fish ; its favourite food was barley bread, though if grain 

 of any kind was thrown down lo it, it would devour it in the same 

 manner and with the same ra])idity as the common duck. Of all 

 the birds of prey with which I am acquainted, the Honey Buzzard 

 is apparently the gentlest, the kindest, and the most capable of at- 

 tachment ; it seems to possess little of the fierceness of that warlike 

 tribe. It will follow me round the garden, cowering and shaking 

 its wings, though not soliciting food, uttering at the same time a 

 plaintive sound, something like the whistle of the golden plover, but 

 softer and much more prolonged. Though shy with strangers, it is 

 very fond of being noticed and caressed by those to whose presence 

 it has been accustomed. In the same garden there are three lap- 



* Griffith's Cuvier, viii. pp. 173, 175, 17fi. Prichard, Researches into the 

 Physical History of Mankind, i. p. 1 10, .'ird ed. 



