ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD. 197 



dish margins. Indications of bars on the tail are usually mot 

 with, and its broad brown band is darker or lighter. 



Habits. — The Rough-legged Buzzard, which is a native of 

 the colder regions of both continents, now and then makes its 

 appearance in Britain, toward the end of autumn or in winter ; 

 but if it ever remains to breed with us, the instances must be 

 extremely rare, and I am unable to find any description of its 

 nest, eggs, or young, as observed in this country. In the 

 southern division of Scotland it has several times been pro- 

 cured, and, as My Yarrell remarks, " it has been killed once 

 or oftener in every county in England." Yet Mr Selby, I be- 

 lieve, is the only person who has described its habits from per- 

 sonal observation, he having had an opportunity of watching 

 two birds that had settled in his neighbourhood. " Their 

 flight," he says, " was smooth, but slow, and not unlike that 

 of the Common Buzzard, and they seldom continued for any 

 length of time on the wing. They preyed upon wild ducks 

 and other birds, which they pounced upon on the ground ; and it 

 would appear that mice and frogs must have constituted a great 

 part of their food, as the remains of both were found in the 

 stomachs of those that were killed." 



On the continent, according to M. Temminck, it inhabits 

 the borders of woods, in the vicinity of water ; in autumn and 

 winter is frequent in the northern countries, and sometimes 

 makes its appearance in Holland, usually in company with the 

 Common Buzzard. Its food, he says, is composed of water- 

 rats, hamsters, moles, young rabbits, hares and birds, often of 

 serpents and frogs. From the Scandinavian Peninsula and 

 other northern parts it is seen as far south as the shores of the 

 Mediterranean, and is even said to have been met with at the 

 Cape of Good Hope. 



In America it is confined to the northern parts. According 

 to Dr Richardson, " it arrives in the fur countries in April or 

 May, and, having reared its young, retires southward early in 

 October. It winters on the banks of the Delaware and Schuyl- 

 kill, returning to the north in spring. It is by no means an un- 

 common bird in the districts through which the expedition 



