ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD 285 



When writing to the Zoologist in 1877, Lord Clifton 

 says : " It is somewhat remarkable that the Eough-legged 

 Buzzard was unrecognised here until December 6, 1876, 

 the common species occurring almost every year about 

 November 1. On December 6 I went to a well-known 

 haunt of the Common Buzzard to see if any were about, 

 and I at once perceived two Buzzards hovering over a 

 wood. I noticed several peculiarities in their appearance. 

 Their heads were conspicuously light in colour, and their 

 long wings and hovering flight gave them a somewhat 

 aquiline appearance. Waiting about the place, I very 

 soon had a good view of one which was being chased by 

 a Hooded Crow, and presently settled on a low tree. I 

 had now no doubt what they were. The whitish head, 

 white basal half of the tail, whitish underside of the 

 wings, dark band across the belly, and yellowish edgings 

 to the upper plumage, all convinced me that they were 

 the rough-legged species. Seen on the wing, the mottled 

 plumage of the back presented a sort of marbled appear- 

 ance, with alternate light and shade. Seen sitting, the 

 yellowish edgings predominated, making the bird look 

 like the light-coloured race of the Sea-Eagle which is 

 found in Egypt. The light underside of the wings, ex- 

 cepting one dark spot, is a very rare mark of distinction 

 from the common Buzzard. But above all, the flight is 

 unmistakably different. It is almost the difference be- 

 tween a Kestrel and a Sparrow-Hawk, the wings of 

 Archibuteo lagopus being long and slightly pointed, 

 instead of straight and round ; this feature is very notice- 

 able when the bird is flying away from you, the points 

 of the wings being directed backwards. In the rapid 

 beating of the wings, with alternate smooth glidings and 

 shootings, the Eough-legged Buzzard resembles the 



