812 
heads scratched. And these birds, 
when rendered familiar, are well 
known to approach every person 
whocomes near, and to stretch out 
their necks by way of making known 
their desire. 
It is not long that this singular 
bird has been known, even at the 
Cape ; but when we consider its so- 
cial and familiar dispositions, we are 
disposed to think that it would be 
adviseable to multiply the species, 
particularly in our colonies, for it 
is hardy enough to endure even Eu- 
ropean climates, where it might be 
serviceable in destroying, not only 
‘the pernicious reptiles, but rats and 
mice. 
It is a very singular circumstance, 
that this bird strikes forwards with 
its Jegs, and not, like all others, 
backwards. The secretary falcons 
make a flat nest with twigs, not 
unlike that of some of the eagles, 
full three feet in diameter, and line 
it with wool and feathers. ‘This is 
usually formed in some high tuft of 
trees, and is often so well conccaled 
as not easily to be found. 
Anecdote of the Common Buzzard*, 
from the same. 
HE buzzard is about twenty 
inches in length, and in breadth 
four feet and a half. Its bill is lead 
coloured. ‘The upper parts of the 
body are dusky brown, and the 
lower pale, varied with brown. The 
wings and tail are marked with bars 
of a darker hue. The tail is greyish 
beneath, and tipped with a dusky 
white. The legs are yellowish, and 
the claws black. “This well known 
* Synonyms.—Falco Buteo, Linn.—Buse, Buffi—Buzzard, Penn—Common 
Buzzard, Lath.—Bew. Birds, p. 15.—-Penn. Brit, Zool. vol, i. tab. 25. 
+ Latham, i. 48. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. 
bird, is of a sedentary and indolent 
disposition: it continues perclied 
for many hours upon a tree or émi- 
nence, from whence it darts upon 
such prey as comes in its reach. It 
feeds on birds, small quadrupeds, 
reptiles, and inseéts. Though pos- 
sessed both of strength, agility, and 
weapons to defend itself, it is cow- 
ardly, inaétive, and slothful : it will 
fly before a sparrow hawk, and, 
when overtaken, will suffer itself to 
be beaten, and even brought te the} 
ground, without resistancet. 
The ensuing anecdote, will shew 
that the buzzard may be so far 
tamed, as eyen to be rendered a 
faithful domestic. We shall recite 
it, verbatim, from the letter of the 
relater, M. Fontaine, a most intel- 
ligent naturalist. ; 
*¢ In 1763 (says this gentleman) 
buzzard was brought to me that had 
been taken in a snare; it was, at 
first, extremely savage, and even 
cruel. I undertook to tame it, and} 
I succeeded, by Jeaving it to fast,} 
and constraining it to come and eat 
out of my hand. By pursuing this 
plan, l brought it to be very fami- 
liar: and, after having shut it up 
about six weeks, I began to allow 
it a little liberty, taking the precau- 
tion, however, to tie both pinions of 
its wings. In this condition it 
walked out into my garden, and re- 
turned when [I called it to feed. 
After some time, when I judged that 
I could trust to its fidelity, I re- 
moved the ligatures, and fastened a 
small bell, an inch and a half in dia- 
meter, above its talon, and also at- 
tached on the breast, a bit of cop- 
per, having my name engrayen on it. 
I then gave it entire liberty, which 
it 
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