COMMON BUZZARI>. 137 



his prey comes up, I cannot affirm from observation. 

 This, however, is clear — if his food frequently consists 

 of young hares and rabbits, partridges, frogs and liz- 

 ards, he may wait long enough on an old tree in a 

 wood before he satisfies his hunger. When on his ex- 

 cursions, he very rarely gives chase to a bird on wing, 

 but prefers pouncing his prey on the ground. He fre- 

 quently catches beetles and other insects, and contrives 

 to fish up aquatic lizards from the pools and marshes. 

 One which I dissected many years ago had his stomach 

 distended with the last-mentioned animals. 



The Common Buzzard is a stationary bird with us, 

 remaining all the year, and seems to occur in most dis- 

 tricts of England and Scotland, although it is rarely 

 met with. In the latter country, it prefers wild, hilly 

 regions ; but in England, as in France, it is said to oc- 

 cur chiefly in wooded places, where the trees are of 

 considerable height. 



The sum of the information respecting his habits af- 

 forded by authors is, that he is a dull, stupid, heavy 

 bird, slow in flight, and seldom remaining long on 

 wing, unless in the breeding season, when he soars to 

 a great height. Buff'on and Montagu say he never 

 seizes his prey on wing, but contents himself with 

 young hares, rabbits, partridges, and quails, or with 

 frogs, lizards, serpents, and even worms and beetles. 

 According to Willughby, Montagu, and Mr Selby, he 

 also devours moles and mice ; and the first of these 

 authors asserts that he does not disdain even cow-dung.^ 

 " De tout temps," says the eloqiient Buffbn, " on a com- 

 pare rhomme grossierement impudent au milan, et la 

 Cemme tristement bete a la buse." 



