2000 THE DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY 



India; while in Japan and China its place is occupied by B. plumipes, distinguished 

 by the greater extent to which the metatarsus is feathered. This species also ranges 

 through the Himalayas to Gilgit, and occurs occasionally in India. America pos- 

 sesses another closely-allied species in Swainson's buzzard (B. obsoletus), ranging 

 over the greater part of that continent. In searching for their prey, which consists 

 mainly of small mammals, birds, and reptiles, buzzards fly slowly and sluggishly; 

 and their cowardly disposition, to which allusion has already been made, is exhibited 

 by their generally selecting young or feeble animals for their victims. At times, 

 however, and especially in the breeding season, these birds will soar in circles high 

 in the air, occasionally uttering their shrill and melancholy whistle-like cry. After 

 feeding, they usually take up their station on a tree, from which, if disturbed, they 

 fly in what appears to be a frightened manner. In England, according to Professor 

 Newton, the nest is usually in a tree, while in the more mountainous districts of 

 Scotland preference is given to rocks. The eggs, which are usually two or three, 

 but occasionally four in number, much resemble those of the red kite. In America 

 Captain Bendire relates that Swainson's buzzard has been observed nesting in har- 

 monious association with other birds, especially with Arkansas kingbirds and 

 shrikes; the nests of these birds being sometimes only a few inches below those of 

 the buzzards. Fossilized remains of the common buzzard have been found in caverns 

 in Devonshire and Westmoreland; the metatarsus figured on p. 1904 coming from 

 the latter county. 



Although the rough-legged buzzards, of which there are but very few 



oug - egge g p ec } es differ from the true buzzards merely in having the metatarsus 

 Buzzards r 



feathered right down to the toes, it is found convenient to distinguish 



them by a separate generic name. Their range includes Central and Northern 

 Europe, Northern Asia, and the whole of North America; the European species 

 sometimes straggling as far as South Africa. The European rough-legged buzzard 

 (Archibuteo lagopus) the species represented in our illustration is a bird some- 

 what larger than the common buzzard, and not exhibiting quite as much individual 

 variation in color as the latter. Ranging over Northern and Central Europe and 

 Siberia, this buzzard is met with yearly in the British Islands, where it sometimes 

 occurs in considerable numbers, more especially in the autumn and winter. In the 

 case of such a variable bird it will be unnecessary to give any description of the col- 

 oration, beyond stating that, according to Dr. Sharpe, the species is specially char- 

 acterized by the brown color of the markings on the flanks and thighs; and by the 

 ground color of the head, throat, and chest being white or buffish white, upon 

 which are buff streaks. In North America this species is replaced by St. John's 

 buzzard {A. sancti-johannis}, distinguished by its generally darker color and the 

 larger amount of black on the lower surface. The ferruginous buzzard (A, ferru- 

 gineus) of Southwestern North America differs by the white flanks and the chestnut 

 fawn of the flanks. A fourth species (A. strophiatus} , characterized by its uni- 

 formly brown head, neck, and chest, inhabits Nipal and Tibet. The habits of the 

 rough-legged buzzards are so generally similar to those of the members of the genus 

 Buteo, that they require but brief notice. The individuals of the European species 

 visiting Britain prefer, however, according to Professor Newton, open districts, 



