HONEY BUZZAKD. 



PERXIS APIVORUS. 



T'j]* of tlie liead asli-grcy ; neck and back greyish luown : throat yellowish 

 white, witli hrowji spots ; breast wlute, marked witli triangular brown spots ; 

 tail with three brownisli black bars ; beak and claws black ; cere grey ; iridos 

 and toes yellow. Female — upper plumage reddisli bro\vn with darker spots ; 

 lower pale j-ellowish red with daik brown spots. Lengtli : male twenty-four 

 inches ; female twenty-six inches. Eggs yellowish white, blotched with 

 reddisli brown. 



On the Continent, the Honey Buzzard is a migratory bird, 

 common enough in the middle of France and on the banks 

 of the Loire, where it breeds, and passing to the south at 

 the approach of winter. Like others of the Hawk tribe, 

 it preys on reptiles, the smaller warm-blooded animals, 

 and on insects. Its Latin specific name — Ajnvorus (bee- 

 eating) — is more correct than its English prefix, Honey ; 

 but a more accurate title than either would be, Vesjnvo^'us 



