HONE Y-BUZZARD 427 
The name Honey-Buzzard is admittedly misleading, for honey 
forms no part of its food, though the immature stages of Wasps 
and Humble-bees have a particular attraction for it; and it may be 
seen on the ground, where it runs swiftly like a Barndoor-Fowl, 
scratching out their nests, and feeding on the living contents of the 
combs, regardless of the stings of the infuriated owners, against 
which the short, rounded and closely-adpressed feathers covering its 
face are said to form a protective vizor. The species is still further 
remarkable for the great difference of coloration exhibited by indi- 
viduals belonging to it, which have hitherto defied all attempts at 
reduction to what passes for “law” ;1 but the widest variation is 
observable in young birds of the year, while the assumption of an 
ashy-grey head is held to indicate maturity. Whether these cases can 
be justifiably attributed to what is called POLYMORPHISM remains to 
be proved ; but that obviously could only be done after a series of 
attentive observations which can hardly be carried out in England on 
a scarce species that is dwindling in numbers, as this is. The Honey- 
Buzzard occupies a nest in a high tree, and therein lays 3 richly- 
coloured eggs. When the young are hatched the parents surround 
it with leafy boughs, renewed as they wither, but whether intended 
as a screen or a barrier is unknown; though the former is believed 
to be the object of this habit, and may possibly have given rise to 
the old French name of the species. 
Two other species of the genus beside those mentioned are recog- 
nized by Mr. Gurney (List Diurn. B. of Prey, p. 87)—one from 
Burma and the adjacent countries, P. brachypterus or tweeddalii, and 
CYMINDIS. BAZA. AVICIDA. 
(After Swainson.) 
one from Celebes, P. celebensis; but it is asserted to have also 
several other allies, some of which lead off to the Milvinw (KiTE), 
seen on passage, constantly increasing in numbers and with greater frequency ; 
while from 3 to 6 o’clock in the afternoon a continuous stream of greater and 
greater flocks from 50 to 80 or even more was maintained. All came from the 
east and passed westward (cf. Cordeaux, Jbis, 1875, pp. 175, 176). Similar 
flocks have been observed crossing the Strait of Gibraltar by Favier and Lord 
Lilford (bis, 1865, p. 177; Irby, Orn. Str. Gibralt. p. 49). 
1 Herein see the late Mr. Gurney’s notes (Zbis, 1880, pp. 195-204), wherein 
are references to many other authorities. 
