116 falconiD/P:. 



the C'ommon Buzzard; but it does not exhibit quite the same 

 extent of variation in the colour of the plumage. The Rough- 

 legged Buzzard, although it has been killed in almost every 

 English county, and occurs, occasionally in large numbers, in 

 this country every year, must be regarded as the more rare 

 bird of the two, and is usually observed in autumn or winter. 

 But instances have been recorded of its breeding in Great 

 Britain, the most trustworthy perhaps of which is that 

 mentioned by the late Mr. Williamson of Scarborough, who 

 in a communication made to the Zoological Society in 1836, 

 stated that it " breeds occasionally in a precipitous dell near 

 Hackness," and further particulars on this subject have been 

 supplied to Mr. More (Ibis, 1865, p. 12) by Mr. Alwin 

 Bell. Mr. Edward of Banff also says (Zool. p. 5201) that 

 its nest has been found in that neighbourhood. 



The Rough-legged Buzzard appears to prefer much the 

 same kind of habitat as the Common Buzzard ; but when it 

 visits the British Islands it rather haunts the open country 

 and especially such districts as abound in rabbits, wdiich 

 with smaller mammals, water-fowl and reptiles constitute 

 its chief food. In some years the number which occurs is 

 very large, and the autumn of 1839 was particularly thus 

 distinguished, Macgillivray (Brit. Birds, iii. p. 736) has 

 noticed its abundance at that time in various parts of this 

 island, as Messrs. Gurney and Fisher have also done with 

 especial reference to the neighbourhood of Thetford. In 

 1858, according to Mr. Stevenson, it was again numerous in 

 the locality last mentioned. In Scotland it appears also in 

 autumn, and at irregular periods is plentiful, but more com- 

 monly on the east than on the west coast. In Ireland several 

 instances of its occurrence are on record. 



The flight of this bird is slow but smooth, and, except 

 during its migrations, is seldom continued for any great 

 length of time. It generally has its nest on high trees and 

 lays, rather early in the year, from three to five eggs, a very 

 large series of which was obtained in Lapland by the late 

 Mr. Wolley, some of the most beautiful being figured in the 

 catalogue of his collection (Ooth. Woll. pis. v., vi.). They 



