By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 353 
hours on the bare limb of some decayed tree, watching the acci- 
dental arrival of a victim. Its legs and feet are comparatively 
short and strong, as we generally find to be the case with those 
genera or species which prey on quadrupeds in preference to birds. 
“Rough legged Buzzard,” (Buteo Lagopus.) Though rarer as 
a species than the last, this has been occasionally met with in 
various parts of the county. The last occurrence was in 1854, 
when two were seen in the neighbourhood of Ogborne, one of which 
was killed by Mr. Godwin, of Brimslade. Mr. Marsh possesses one 
which was taken in the parish of Brinkworth, at Somerford Common, 
in 1839, and reports it as very rare there, indeed that is the only 
specimen which has come under his notice; and I have a note of 
another killed near Wroughton. In habits, food, and mode of 
obtaining it, this species much resembles the preceding, but may 
easily be distinguished from its congeners by the feathering of its 
legs down to the toes, whence its specific names, both English and 
scientific, dagopus signifying “footed like a hare.” 
“ Honey Buzzard,” (Pernis apivorus.) Very different from all 
other members of the Falconid, both in habits and the prey it 
seeks is this elegant bird. Though universally styled the Honey 
Buzzard, honey forms no portion of its food, and it is not for this 
that it searches out the nests of bees and wasps, scratches away the 
bank in which they are placed, and tears out the comb; the larvee 
or immature young, are the objects of its diligent search, and these 
it devours with great greediness, picking them out and demolishing 
them without any regard to the anger or the stings of their owners. 
The scientific name it bears declares this habit clearly enough, and 
it would be well was the English specific name exchanged for the 
‘Gentle’ Falcon (as has been suggested), the word gentle signifying 
the nymphz of wasps, bees, &c., as the readers of honest old Isaac 
Walton well know: the present name of Honey Buzzard is apt to 
mislead. But though so partial to young bees and wasps, thesedo not 
form the entire food of this large bird, indeed it would be difficult 
to satisfy a voracious appetite with such delicacies: rats, mice, 
frogs, and small birds, all go to fill its capacious craw. However, 
it makes its appearance in this country only in the summer, when 
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