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83. Buteo buteo insularum Fluor. 



Didni hiilm iiisuliiriiin Floericke, Milt, iisterr. Heir/ish. f. VdifFlh. mid Viif/i'hrh. ]\'ti h iii. p. lU 

 (1903 : Gran Cinaria). 



The Buzzards from the Azores are very closely allied to typical /j/ifeo from 

 North Europe, but they differ in two poiuts : they are as a rule distinctly smaller, 

 the wings of the males measuring- not more than '54 to 3(3, those of the females 

 36 to 38 cm., thus averaging about 2 to 3 cm. shorter than those of typical North 

 European bitteo. Secondly, they are much more uniform in colour, being deep 

 brown above, while below they have deep brown praepectoral and abdominal bands 

 of brown spots divided by a whitish area. In only a few specimens are these areas 

 not distinct. 



I cannot see that these Azorean buzzards differ from those from the Canary 

 Islands, which have been named Bi/feo hufeo insularum. I therefore accept this 

 name for the Azores birds. 



Mr. Grant obtained 23 specimens: 7 from Terceira, 12U0 and 1500 ft. high; 

 4 from San Jorge, 1200 and 1300 ft. high; 7 from Graciosa ; 2 from San Mignel, 

 loijo ft. high ; and 3 from central Fayal, 2.)0O ft. high. The iris is marked as 

 light brown (brown, reddish-brown, pale brown, very light brown, almost yellowish 

 brown). The bill blackish (blackish horn-colour), cere pale yellow (light yellow), 

 legs and feet yellow (dark yellow, darker yellow, pale bright yellow, light yellow). 

 The length was measured in the flesh : S 18, 18-2, 18-6, 18-7, 19-3, 19 in.; ? Ls-U, 

 19-1, 19-7, 20, 20-3, 21 in. 



[Local name : Milhafre. 



Specimens in Ponta Delgada Museum : 



a, h. Arrifes, near Ponta Delgada, San Miguel. 

 c. Ribeira Grande, San Miguel. 



A fourth specimen of the Buzzard was presented to the Briti.';h Museum. 



The common Buzzard is the only indigenous bird of prey fonnd in the Azores. 

 The Portuguese name for the Goshawk is " A(.'or," and the early settlers, supposing 

 the large hawks they found so numerous on the islands to be of that species, 

 named the group accordingly, though as a matter of fact the Goshawk has never 

 been known to occur there, even as a straggler. 



The " Milhafre " is found throughout the eastern and central islands, and is 

 a common and conspicuous bird from sea-level to the highest ground ; but on the 

 western islands of Flores and Corvo we met with none, and were told that it 

 only occurs there as an occasional visitor. As so conspicuous a bird cannot easily 

 be overlooked, this information is no doubt correct. 



When one says the " Milhafre " is common, it must be understood that it is 

 common as hawks go, and that a dozen jjairs may be seen in a long day's march. 

 A pair or two are to be fonnd about every town and village, either perched on 

 some tall tree or wall, or soaring round in graceful circles on the look-out for 

 rabbits, rats, or chickens, of which they destroy large numbers. They are also 

 useful scavengers, devouring all sorts of carrion, but the natives hate them ou 

 account of their ravages in the poultry-yard. Though apparently bold and 

 comparatively tame, especially in the neighbourhood of dwellings, they are really 

 e.xtremely wary and difficult to ajiproach if one is armed witli a gun. When at 

 rest they always select some commanding position whence an uninterruirted view 

 can be had of the surrounding country, so that to stalk these liirds is generally 



