HONEY BUZZARD. 89 



cimen : he was told that it bred in the woods at Lowther. 

 Mr. Thompson of Belfast has recorded one example killed in 

 the North of Ireland. Mr. Macgillivray mentions two in- 

 stances of the occurrence of this species in Scotland. 



According to Linneus, Brunnich, JNluller, and Pennant, 

 the Honey Buzzard inhabits Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and 

 Russia. From thence southward, it is found in Germany, 

 France, Italy, and the South of Europe generally, M. Tem- 

 minck considers it very rare in Holland. It is said to be 

 a native of Eastern climes ; and Mr. Gould states that he 

 has seen it in collections of skins from India. 



The figure and description here given were taken from a 

 specimen in the British Museum, which was killed near York. 

 Honey Buzzards measure from twenty-two to twenty-five 

 inches, depending on the sex. The beak is black ; the cere 

 grey, the irides yellow ; the space between the beak and the 

 eye covered with feathers, small, round, and closely set ; the 

 upper part of the head and back of the neck buffy white, 

 with brown streaks ; upper surface of the body and wings 

 uniform broAvn colour ; the primaries nearly black, the third 

 and fourth feathers the longest and equal : the tail long ; the 

 upper surface of the tail-feathers barred transversely with two 

 shades of brown : the front of the neck, breast, and belly, 

 pale yellow brown ; the shaft and middle line of each feather 

 marked by a dark brown longitudinal streak or patch, those 

 of the belly transversely barred : thighs and under tail-coverts 

 varied with yellowish brown and white ; the tarsi feathered 

 half-way down, the lower portion reticulated and yellow ; the 

 toes yellow ; the claws black, rather long, slender, and not 

 much curved. 



This species, like the other Buzzards, occasionally presents 

 some variety in colour and markings. Those specimens 

 which have the head of a uniform ash grey have been called 

 the Capped Buzzard. 



