36 FALCONID^. 



thinned its numbers that the Buzzard, though once com- 

 mon, is now become rare. 



In a vignette, " Yarrell's British Birds," vol. I, p. 86, is 

 an interesting sketch of a Buzzard engaged in the maternal 

 duties of the domestic hen. 



THE EOUGH-LEGGED BUZZAKD. 



BUTEO LAGOPUS. 



Tarsi feathered to the claws ; plumage yellowish white, variegated with several 

 shades of browTi ; a broad patch of brown on the breast ; tail white in the 

 basal half, the rest uniform brown ; beak black ; cere and irides yellow ; 

 feathers on the legs fawn-coloured, spotted with bro\\ni ; toes yellow ; claws 

 black. Length twenty-six inches. Eggs whitish, clouded with reddish brown. 



This bird, wliich is distinguished from the preceding by- 

 having its legs thickly clothed with long feathers, is a 

 native of the colder countries of both Continents, being 

 only an occasional visitor in Great Britain during autumn 

 and winter. It is sometimes seen in large flights on the 

 Yarmouth Denes in October and November, at the same 

 time with the Short-horned Owl. It mostly frequents 

 the banks of rivers, where it feeds on vermin, reptiles, 

 and the carcases of animals brought down by the floods. 

 In softness of plumage and mode of flight, it resembles 

 the Owls even more than the pi'eceding species, and often 

 extends its hunting expeditions until far into the evening. 

 When not alarmed, it flies slowly and deliberately, and 

 seemingly has neither the inclination nor the power to 

 attack living birds, unless they have been previously 

 disabled by wounds or other cause. The Eough-legged 

 Buzzard builds its nest in lofty trees, and lays three or 

 four eggs ; but there are no well-authenticated instances 

 of its breeding in this country. 



