156 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Quite half-a-dozen pairs of Rough-legged Buzzards 

 (Buteo lagopus) had their eyries within a one-mile radius 

 of the hotel at Abisko. These nests were invariably 

 placed on a shelf amongst a ridge of rocks. The first 

 was discovered on June 22nd, and then contained five 

 eggs, much stained and hard set. Another nest had, on 

 June 30th, the same number of newly-hatched young. 

 The other nests I could not examine except in one 

 instance. This was empty, and was possibly an alter- 

 native eyrie of a pair which were then breeding close by. 

 The first nest was on a shelf about six feet from the top 

 of a ridge of rocks some twenty feet in height, which rose 

 out of the Abisko River, and overhung it. All the nests 

 examined were formed of sticks outside, lined with grass 

 and fresh green shoots of pine and Vaccinium. The 

 other nest was in a low, isolated kopje which rose 

 out of the forest, and was placed on a shelf about six 

 feet from the top, and only approachable with the aid of 

 a rope. This situation, however, did not safeguard 

 the young birds, for in both this and the first nest 

 examined they were poked out of the nests by long 

 sticks, I suspect by Lapps, who, I understand, credit 

 the Buzzard with destroying Reindeer fawns. 



The birds have themselves largely to thank for 

 this treatment, for as one approaches the vicinity 

 of the nest, the male, which is always on the watch on 

 some prominent tree or scarp of rock near-by, rises in 

 the air, and commences to mew and circle round, and if 

 one Avalks towards him, he will retreat in the direction of 

 the nest ; finally, when one is quite close to it, circling 

 round the crag in which it is placed, and by his anxiety 

 plainly indicating its position. One male discovered 

 me whilst I was half-a-mile distant, and led me quite 

 another half-mile straight towards his domicile. I 

 discovered the nest on the banks of the Abisko River 

 from below at some distance off, but being unable to see 

 its contents from this position, I approached it from the 

 rear, and getting immediately above, looked cautiously 



