26 



BIRDS OF PREY. 



M. 



of very sylvan habits, de- 

 lighting in the most ex- 

 tensive cha.ses and parks, 

 ■where there is abundance 

 of aged timber. It has 

 often been described as 

 being in the habit of watch- 

 ing from an eminence or 

 lofty tree, and thence 

 sweeping down on prey 

 that may happen to come 

 into its vicinity ; for this 

 purpose it is said to re- 

 main for hours in one 

 situation ; it is probable, 

 however, that these long 

 stationary perches are 

 simply the result of re- 

 pletion, or for the purpose 

 of rest after the exertion 

 of hunting. 



The nest of the buzzard 



is composed of sticks 



mixed with heath, and 



lined with wool and grass. 



The eggs are three or four 



in number, oval in shape, 



and of a dull or slightly bluish white, sometimes nearly spotless, but usually 



spotted with rusty brown. The young accompany the old birds for some time 



after quitting their nest, a circumstance unusual amongst birds of prey. 



Fig. 13. — The Com-mo.m Buzzard {Bntco vulgaris). 



Sub-Family III. 

 THE EAGLES. AQUILIN.E. 



General Characteristics.- — Bill moderate, culmen elevated and straight at the base, 

 and then much arched to the tip, which is hooked and acute, the sides much com- 

 pressed, and the lateral mai'gins more or less festooned ; nostrils placed in front of 

 the cere, large, and generally oval ; wings lengthened and acute, with the third, 

 fourth, and fifth quills usually the longest ; tail long, ample, and mostly rounded at 

 the end ; tarsi long, clothed with feathers to the base of the toes, or naked and 

 covered with variously-formed scales ; toes long, strong, united at the base (espe- 

 cially the two outer) ; lateral toes unequal both in length and strength, the inner 

 being the strongest ; cla\\s long, strong, much curved, and acute, tliat of the inner 

 toe the strongest. 



These noble birds are to be met with in most parts of the world, 

 regardless of temperature, but preferring the mountainous dis- 

 tricts. They usually soar to a great height in the air, and from 

 this elevation they will descend upon their victims. They may, 



