ROUGH -LEGGED BUZZARD. 737 



seemed to be the field mouse. In the stomach were rabbits' 

 fur and small bones, mixed with decomposed animal matter. 

 The male was caught two days afterwards in a trap baited with 

 a piece of flesh and the intestines of rabbits. When first seen, 

 there were four birds, and they were surrounded by Carrion 

 Crows, whose loud croakings foretold their approach. I have 

 seen the Carrion Crow evince the same rancorous hostility to 

 the Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk, and Buzzard." 



The specimen from Dumfriesshire, which was shot by Mr 

 Shaw, head gamekeejDer to the Duke of Buccleuch, is remark- 

 ably interesting. Its length was 22 inches, extent of wings 

 58; wing from flexure 18i ; tail 9y§. Its general appear- 

 ance and colours are precisely similar to those of the bird de- 

 scribed at p. 193, the brown tint being merely somewhat paler. 

 But on the hind part of the neck, and amongst the scapulars, 

 are several feathers of a chocolate or blackish-brown colour, 

 with broad yellowish-white lateral margins. These feathers 

 are perfectly entire, fresh, and having their bases still sheathed ; 

 whereas the other feathers are all more or less worn. On the 

 head, hind-neck, and back a great number of young feathers, 

 of the same black colour, are found sprouting up among the 

 down. None of the quills or tail-feathers have been shed, and 

 there are no young feathers on the lower parts. The bird has 

 commenced its moult, and is in all probability a young one of 

 the preceding year. The second plumage is thus shewn to be 

 chocolate brown, or at all events the plumage is ultimately 

 darker ; and thus the opinion of Mr Audubon appears to be 

 correct. As all the birds hitherto found in this country and 

 described have been light-coloured, it would appear that no 

 adult individuals arrive here, but that the small flocks consist 

 of the young of a brood, and that they alone migrate so far 

 southward ; and as they return northward in spring, they have 

 not moulted at the time of their de])arture. Perhaps the moult 

 had commenced earlier than usual in this individual, for, as 

 light-coloured birds have been seen breeding, and as the moult 

 is not completed imtil the beginning of winter in this or the 

 common Buzzard, it can scarcely be supposed to commence in 

 general so early as March. Judging from the tints of the new 



VOL. III. 3 H 



