FALCONIDA. Q27 
slightly wounded it, and being anxious to keep it 
alive, tied it to a tree in an orchard while he went 
into a farm-house for luncheon ; when he came back 
of course the bird had escaped, nor could he find it 
again anywhere. I have no doubt, from the descrip- 
tion given to me, that this was the Roughlegged 
Buzzard: moreover, the gentleman who shot it was 
perfectly competent to form an opinion on the 
identity of a bird so easily distinguished by its 
feathered legs. 
The food of the Roughlegged Buzzard appears to 
be much the same as that of the Common Buzzard, 
namely, hares, rabbits, rats, mice, and other small 
quadrupeds, as well as some reptiles, such as lizards 
and frogs: it is, however, more enterprising on the 
wing, as it will take Wild Ducks and other large 
birds when pressed by hunger. 
The nest is described as being a coarse edifice of 
sticks, moss and grass, loosely put together; was 
often on a fell ridge, often in a tree, but never down 
in the forest.* 
This species differs occasionally in plumage; the 
description here given is taken from the one bought 
at the Sandhill sale: it agrees very nearly with those 
* See a note by Mr. Wheelwright, in the < Field,’ 
reprinted in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1863, p. 8441. Mr. Wheel- 
wright writes from Sweden, where these birds appear to be 
common in the spring. 
D2 
