AVES-BUZZARD. 



459 



returned when I culled it to feed- After some time, when I judged that I 

 could trust to its fidelity, I removed the ligatures; and fastened a small bell, 

 an inch and a half in diameter, above its talon, and also attached to its 

 breast a bit of copper, having my name engraved on it. I then gave it 

 entire liberty, which it soon abused ; for it took wing, and flew as far as the 

 forest of Belesme. I gave it up for lost ; but four hours afterwards, I saw it 

 rush into my hall, pursued by four or five other buzzards, which had con- 

 strained it to seek again its asylum. After this adventure, it preserved its 

 fidelity to me, coming every night to sleep on my window.' 1 It would also 

 sit by and caress him at dinner, and follow him when he was on horseback. 

 This bird had a remarkable antipathy to wigs, and particularly to red caps, 

 which it never failed to snatch from the wearers, and deposit in a very high 

 tree, that served as a store-house for its plunder. It is still more to the 

 credit of the buzzard, that it is a most kind and assiduous parent ; and Ray 

 affirms that, should the female chance to be killed, the male will take charge 

 of the young ones, and rear them till they can provide for themselves. The 

 eggs of this bird are whitish, spotted with yellow. 



THE MOOR BUZZARD. i 



This bird is about twenty-one inches in length, with a black bill, and 

 yellow cere and eyes. The whole crown of the head is of a yellowish white, 

 lightly tinged with brown ; the throat is of a light rust color ; the rest of the 

 plumage is of a reddish brown, with pale edges ; the greater wing-coverts 

 are tipped with white ; the legs are yellow ; and claws black. 



Rabbits, young wild ducks, and other waterfowl, are the prey of this bird , 

 which will likewise feed on fish, frogs, reptiles, and even insects. Its haunts 

 are in hedges and bushes, near pools, marshes, and rivers that abound with 

 fish. It builds its nest a little above the surface of the ground, or in hillocks 



1 F. rufus, Lin. 



