THE HONEY BUZZARD 143 



New Forest, and here still, we believe, a few pairs 

 linger, in spite of the heavy price that has been set 

 upon their heads by " collectors." The poor bird is 

 one of the most harmless of our native species, and 

 its good offices in destroying wasps should claim 

 for it immunity from persecution, to say nothing of 

 its beauty and the charm it lends to woodland 

 scenery. We can attribute the extermination 

 of the Honey Buzzard to nothing but the 

 persecution of ignorant gamekeepers and the 

 stupid craze for British - taken eggs and skins. 

 Of all our threatened species none stand in 

 greater need of protection, and whatever steps 

 may be taken to save it must be prompt and 

 effective. 



Beyond the British Islands the Honey Buzzard 

 is somewhat sparingly and locally distributed as a 

 breeding species over the greater part of Europe, 

 from the Arctic Circle southwards to the Pyrenees 

 and Bulgaria. Eastwards its breeding range 

 extends from Asia Minor and Turkestan, across 

 Southern Siberia and North China to Japan. It 

 passes the Mediterranean countries on migration 

 only, and its winter home includes the African 

 portion of the intertropical realm, and possibly 

 India and Siam. 



