THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 183 



shoot it with great zeal, since, hke all other raptorial birds, it 

 forms a favourite dish here. 



The nesting range of this species extends over the whole of 

 Europe as far as Japan. In the East, however, it is said to be less 

 numerous. 



19. — Common Buzzard [Mausebussard]. 



FALCO BUTEO, Linn.' 



Heligolandish : Bott-uhl = Short Owl. 



Falco bnteo. Naumann, i. 346. 



Common Buzzard. Dresser, v. 449. 



The Common Buzzard visits Hehgoland throughout the whole 

 year, excepting in June and July, for the most part in small 

 groups of three, four, or more examples, though sometimes during 

 the autumn migration these numbers are increased almost up 

 to hundreds. Shoidd a sharp frost set in later on during the 

 winter, solitary examples of this species are to be met with almost 

 daily. These specially devote their attention to the countless 

 swarms of rats which infest the base of the cliff. 



The Buzzard breeds in Europe and western Asia up to about 

 65" N. lat. 



20. — Rough-legged Buzzard [i;auhfussbussard]. 

 FALCO LAGOPUS, Lmn.2 



Heligolandish : Euch-fiitted Bott-ubl = Rough-footed Buzzard. 



Falco lagopus. Naumann, i. 359. 



Rough-legged Buzzard. Dresser, v. 47 1 . 



Bum pattue. Temminck, Manuel, i. 65, 471. 



This bird is never found in Hehgoland as numerously as the 

 preceding species, though it is common at all times and well known 

 to eveiy gunner. Xor is it seen only during the spring and autumn 

 migrations, but solitary examples are also met with in the course 

 of the winter. 



I have only on two occasions met with an old male here, similar 

 to that figured by Naumann, Plate 34, fig. 1. All the rest resembled 

 more or less the example portrayed as fig. 2 on the same plate. 



This species breeds in northern Europe and Asia, and in 

 Scandinavia as far as the North Cape. 



' Buteo vul'jaris, Leach. ' ArchibtUeo tarjopus (Gmel.). 



