HONEY-BUZZARD. 123 



end. Mr. Henry John Elwcs and Mr. Beaven Rake have 

 kindly contributed some valuable information on this subject, 

 but in the interest of the ])irds no true naturalist would 

 wish that the precise particulars should be at present pub- 

 lished. The nests are said to be generally placed in a tall 

 oak, between twenty-five and fifty feet from the ground, and 

 are built externally of dead sticks, some as largo as a finger, 

 with lichens adhering, the interior being formed of smaller 

 twigs and lined with wool and freshly plucked oak and 

 beech-leaves.* The persecutors of this very harmless bird 

 are by no means content with taking its eggs : they succeed 

 wherever it is possible in destroying the parents as well, 

 and there can be little doubt, if the present state of things 

 is allowed to go on, that the species will be soon extirpated 

 in this locality. Three seems to be the full number of eggs 

 laid by the Honey-Buzzard. They have a buffy-white 

 ground which is usually more or less entirely obscured by 

 large blotches of dark brownish-crimson or orange-brown, 

 in most specimens distributed pretty equally over the shell, 

 but occasionally collected in a broad zone round the middle, 

 or forming a cap at either of the ends. A variety which is 

 not so very uncommon much resembles some eggs of the 

 Peregrine Falcon. They measure from 2*06 to 1'91 by 

 1-73 to 1-49 in. 



In Scotland a second nest has been of late years taken 

 in Aberdeenshire as stated on the authority of Mr. W. C. 

 Angus, and according to Mr. Robert Gray a very considerable 

 number of birds have been killed at various places and times, 

 but most frequently in the east, and two examples, curiously 

 enough, in winter. In Ireland the occurrence of this species 

 is much rarer, but several instances are on record. 



According to the best information available the following 

 is an outline of the Honey-Buzzard's geographical distribu- 



* The Editor has been informed by Mr. Newconrie, who has himself observed 

 the fact, that in France the Honey-lUizzard, when it has young, surrounds the 

 nest with a bower of leafy boughs— whether to serve as a screen or a barrier he 

 does not know, and while the bird is so persecuted we in England shall not 

 easily ascertain. The young remain long in the nest and the boughs as they 

 wither are frequently renewed. 



