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much for the good. It will also take a leveret or a very young moor game, 
but it has not the pluck to touch them unless very young and weak. I have 
heard them accused of attacking lambs, but have never been able to get any 
proof of their doing so, and do not believe that such is the case. Moles and 
snakes are its favourite food. It is of special use in corn-growing countries. 
Indeed, had I a grouse-moor, I should protect both Peregrine and Buzzard, 
believing as I do that they do far more good than harm. It does not take its 
prey by pursuit, but prowls about quartering the ground and pouncing upon any 
unlucky creature it comes across. 
These birds pair in the beginning of March, building, in this 
district, almost always on ledges on the precipices of our moun- 
tains, and only very seldom in a tree. The nests are often very 
difficult of access, sometimes quite out of reach, unless a rope is 
used. The nest is large, and built of sticks lined with wool and 
moss. It is sometimes based on an old nest of its own or some 
other birds. They do not drive away their young as most other 
hawks do. 
They are very fond of incubating, even in captivity. I have 
several eggs in my possession which have been laid by tame 
Buzzards, and I have known one bring up a chicken; and, 
reversing the order, I have known one brought up by a Bantam 
hen, the difference in size between the foster mother and the 
young bird being most ridiculous. The eggs are three or four in 
number, and rather round. The brown markings increase in size 
and depth of colour as the bird grows older. 
Two Buzzards have, for the last three or four years, constantly 
haunted Blengdale, a small valley close to the village of Gosforth. 
There are no crags on the sides of the valley, and only some half- 
dozen trees in it; so the birds, rather than quit their accustomed 
haunt, built their nest in a Common Thorn bush about eight feet 
from the ground. Hearing of this unusual nesting place, I went 
to examine it, but arrived too late. The nest was there in the 
bush, apparently based on the remains of an old one, but the three 
eggs, which were remarkably well coloured specimens, had been 
taken that morning by a neighbouring gamekeeper. Exactly a 
month afterwards I revisited the valley, and found that the 
obstinate birds still held possession. About three hundred yard 
