32 THE BIRDS OF SHERWOOD FOREST. 
inflicted on him some severe wounds before he could be 
dislodged by the keeper from his post of vantage. The 
plumage of this bird was altogether of a much darker 
tone than is usually the case, the brown markings on 
the centre of the breast and belly being very deep and 
large, as well as those on the feathers of the thighs and 
legs. 
I have met with three instances of the occurrence of the 
Honey Buzzard (Pernisapivorus). One was killed at Ruf- 
ford in the summer of 1854; and a pair, male and female, 
were taken together in the same trap in Inkersal Forest, 
on April 26, 1858. This was a remarkable capture, for 
the birds, with singular unanimity, whether caused by 
hunger or rivalry I cannot tell—most likely the former 
—must have pounced on the rabbit with which the trap 
was baited at the same moment, for both were caught 
by the legs, and of course forfeited their lives. Their 
seizing on the rabbit is a proof, too, that this species 
does not confine itself to insect diet ; and in the absence 
of the larve of bees and wasps I imagine it is not very 
fastidious. 
The circumstance of these birds having mated, and 
the time of year when they were taken, are strongly 
presumptive that they would have bred here bad they 
not met with such an untimely fate, for the locality is a 
very lonely one, and offers many suitable spots for a 
nest. ; 
The harriers are not nearly so plentiful with us as in 
many other parts of England, and especially of Scotland. 
Our district is not generally favourable to the natural 
tastes and habits of the Marsh Harrier (Circus rufus), 
and I have only noted the occurrence of one; but the 
Hen Harrier (C. cyuneus) is frequently met with, 
& 
