114 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 
Indeed it is remarkable what an unusual number of occurrences of 
this species as well as of the Merlin, and the Short-Eared Owl, 
have been recorded from various parts of the country during the 
past winter, 1876—77. 
Pernis Apiworus, “The Honey Buzzard.”’ This, the third species 
of Buzzard which is indigenous to us, though rare in many parts of 
the country, was, up to quite a recent date, a bird of yearly occurrence: 
in these parts. It used to breed annually in the New Forest, year 
by year, and both Mr. Hayden, of Fordingbridge, and Mr. Rawlence, 
of Wilton, have fine specimens of it, with eggs, nest, and young. 
But such a noble bird as this could not long escape detection in 
these days, even in the friendly recesses of the New Forest; and of 
late years, as surely as a nest was discovered, the whole brood was 
certain to be exterminated—eggs, old birds, and young quickly 
falling a prey before the rapacity of collectors. Perhaps it is un- 
avoidable ; if so, we can only say, the more the pity. The consequence 
however is, that there has been no nest in the Forest for the last 
four or five years, though the adult birds are still not unfrequently 
met with: but each year perceptibly thins their ranks, and 
doubtless this species will, ere long, have to be reckoned as merely 
an occasional straggler to our neighbourhood. Mr. Hart’s list of 
specimens which have passed through his hands sufficiently proves 
this. During the last twenty years he has had eighteen specimens 
brought in to him, occurring more and more sparsely as the decades 
run on. Thus, two specimens occurred in 1857; two in 1858; 
four in 1859; two in 1860; four in 1861; one in 1862; one 
in 1863; and then comes a very considerable gap, as the next 
occurrence was one in 1871, and one in 1875. This indeed does 
not represent all the specimens occurring near here during the 
above-named period, as Mr. Hayden, of Fordingbridge, has also 
received numerous specimens from the surrounding district, although 
he tells me that for the last few years he has not had any brought 
to him. Thus, from what I have said above though the numbers — 
mentioned afford a marked contrast to those of the Rough-legged 
Buzzard, which have been recorded during the same period, yet 
facts point to the evident conclusion that ere long the one species 
