HONE Y-B UZZARD 



427 



The name Honey-Buzzard is admittedly misleading, for honey 

 forms no part of its food, though the immature stages of Wasps 

 and Humble-bees have a particular attraction for it ; and it may be 

 seen on the ground, where it runs swiftly like a Barndoor -Fowl, 

 scratching out their nests, and feeding on the living contents of the 

 combs, regardless of the stings of the infuriated owners, against 

 which the short, rounded and closely-adpressed feathers covering its 

 face are said to form a protective vizor. The species is still further 

 remarkable for the great difference of coloration exhibited by indi- 

 viduals belonging to it, which have hitherto defied all attempts at 

 reduction to what passes for " law '' ; ^ but the widest variation is 

 observable in young birds of the year, while the assumption of an 

 ashy-grey head is held to indicate maturity. Whether these cases can 

 be justifiably attributed to what is called Polymorphism remains to 

 be proved ; but that obviously could only be done after a series of 

 attentive observations which can hardly be carried out in England on 

 a scarce species that is dwindling in numbers, as this is. The Honey- 

 Buzzard occupies a nest in a high tree, and therein lays 3 richly- 

 coloured eggs. When the young are hatched the parents surround 

 it with leafy boughs, renewed as they wither, but whether intended 

 as a screen or a barrier is unknown ; though the former is believed 

 to be the object of this habit, and may possibly have given rise to 

 the old French name of the species. 



Two other species of the genus beside those mentioned are recog- 

 nized by Mr. Gurney {Lid Diurn. B. of Prey, p. 87) — one from 

 Burma and the adjacent countries, P. hrachiji)terus or ticeeddalii, and 



Cymindis. 



Baza. 



(After Swainson.) 



AVICIDA. 



one from Celebes, P. celebensis ; but it is asserted to have also 

 several other allies, some of which lead off to the Milimm (Kite), 



seen on passage, constantly increasing iu numbers and with greater frequency ; 

 while from 3 to 6 o'clock in the afternoon a continuous stream of greater and 

 crreater flocks from 50 to 80 or even more was maintained. All camo from the 

 east and passed westward (cf. Cordeau.x. Ihis, 1875, pp. 175, 176). Similar 

 flocks Lave been observed crossing the Sti-ait of Gibraltar by Favier and Lord 

 Lilford (Ibis, 1865, p. 177 ; Irby, Orn. Str. Gihralt. p. 49). 



1 Herein see the late Mr. Gurney's notes [Ibis, 1880, pp. 195-204), wherein 

 are references to many other authorities. 



