BUTEO DESERTORUM. 37 
Gibraltar_, though not in any great abundance^ being most 
frequent in winter and during migration. I noticed it 
passing the Straits on the 28th of March, and have dates of 
nests obtained on the 13th of May, 10th of May, and 17th of 
May in different years, the first two nests containing fresh 
eggs ; all were in tall trees, in the cork- wood. 
11. BuTEO VULGARIS, Bcchst. Commou Buzzard. 
Moorish. Kesir Eknah (Favier). Spanish. Arpella. 
According to Favier, the Common Buzzard is seen in 
flights on passage in March and April, like Milvus korschun. 
I haA^e seen them myself crossing the Straits on the 11th, 
15th, and 24th of March. 
On the Spanish side they are very abundant from No- 
vember to the end of February. I never detected any 
remaining to breed near Gibraltar ; but from a nest in a pine 
tree, containing two eggs, I shot one on the 29th of April 
near Seville. 
In the cork-wood of Almoraima there are certain high 
trees which are the favourite resting-places of Buzzards. 
These trees are always chosen to command a good look-out, 
and are used winter after winter in succession ; if one bird is 
shot, another takes its place. They are too lazy to annoy 
the sportsman ; so, except now and then killing one for 
identification's sake, I never molested them. I once observed 
one feeding on the carcass of a donkey, in company with some 
Griffon Vultures. 
12. BoTEO DESERTORUM, Daud. Rufous Buzzard. 
Moorish. Khabas (Robber). 
" Resident near Tangier, and found in considerable num- 
bers on all sides. Their food consists of rats, mice, snakes, 
frogs, large insects, leverets, rabbits, and chickens. They nest 
on rocks, laying two eggs (in March and April) of a white or 
greenish-white colour, spotted with yellowish or reddish 
brown ; sometimes these spots completely cover the thick end 
of the egg. The males sit in their turn. The irides are 
yellow ; the third and fourth quill-feathers, equal in length. 
