272 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. x. 



Staffordshire and Shropshire, (c/. Brit. B., I., p. 335 ; III., 

 p. 307 ; v., p. 245 ; VIII., p. 18 ; IX., p. 250). 



W. Henry Dobie. 



COMMON BUZZARDS IN SUSSEX, HERTFORDSHIRE, 

 BERKSHIRE AND HAMPSHIRE. 



In connection with the Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain"s note {antea, 

 p. 188), it may be of interest to record that on August 1 2th, 

 1916, a similar afternooii and at about the same time of day, 

 I saw what I feel quite sure were a pair of Common Buzzards, 

 drifting at a great height from west to east over Abbott's 

 Wood, Sussex. 



Like Mr. Jourdain's birds they were soaring in intersecting 

 circles without any apparent wing movement, and had broad 

 wings. I was photographing butterflies at the time and had 

 my head under the focussing cloth, when my attention was 

 arrested by a rather sharp note, difficult to put down, and 

 my first thought when I emerged from the focussing cloth 

 was of Curlews migrating fairly low, so well did the sound 

 carry. The birds were then right over head, and they con- 

 tinued to call until out of sight. 



On March 31st, 1911, I watched three Common Buzzards 

 soaring in intersecting circles over a wood in the Ne^v Forest, 

 which may be interesting, as the local naturahsts state that 

 tliey dn not nest there now, but I think rather that it is a 

 case of not being able to find their nests. C. W. Golthrup. 



Early in February, 1917, a large bird of prey was reported 

 by my wife as having been seen close to my house at Hitchin, 

 and on February 5th I saw this bird at close quarters and 

 identified it as a Common Buzzard. I know the bird well, 

 having seen it many times in Wales and elsewhere. 



J. Beddall Smith. 



Since recording the passage of six Buzzards over Appleton, ' 

 on August 5th, 1916, I have received an interesting piece of 

 confirmatory evidence from Mr. G. Tickner. On September 

 7th, 1916, while shooting near Chilswell Farm, about two 

 miles south-east of ( Jumnor, Berkshire, he saw two Buzzards 

 pass over. They came fairty close, and he was able to note 

 the soaring flight and to identify them as Common Buzzards 

 {Biiteo bufeo). At the time when he mentioned this to me 

 Mr. Tickner was unaware that I had already recorded the 

 presence of this species. 



With regard to their presence in the New Forest, there is 

 no doubt as to their having bred there quite recently. In 

 1915 at least one brood was hatched off. Mr. Witherby 



