The Breedinff Habits of the Honey-Bvzzard. 263 



habits, I may as well add a few more words. It seldom arrives 

 till the beginning of June, when the leaves are thick on the 

 trees, and immediately commences its nest, for which purpose it 

 seems only to come, as it immediately departs when the young 

 birds can fly. Pairs have been known, however, not to lay till 

 the end of July ; and, I am assured by one of the Forest 

 keepers, not sometimes till even the beginning of August ; but 

 these are, doubtless, cases where the birds have been robbed of 

 their first eggs. It differs from the common buzzard in not 

 flying away when disturbed during incubation, but merely 

 skimming round the top of the tree in small circles, uttering 

 its short, shrill cry, sometimes both male and female perching 

 on the branch of a neighbouring tree, and remaining undisturbed 

 by shouts or cries, whilst the nest is being reached. At these 

 times a kind of stupidity seizes the bird. It has, to my know- 

 ledge, on several occasions, remained in the nest till a boy has 

 touched its feathers, and returned as soon as he left. 



As a further illustration, I may add, that in one of the nests 

 before mentioned, in Mark Ash (June 7th, 1862), was only one 

 egg, which was taken. The birds, however, did not forsake, 

 and another, which was also taken, was laid on the third day. 

 Even then the birds did not desert, but after the interval of two 

 more days laid a third egg, about one-half smaller than usual, 

 and in shape somewhat resembling a peregrine's. 



On another occasion, June 11th, 1859, a pair bred in a high 

 beech in Coalmeer Wood, near Stoney Cross, and though fired at 

 more than once did not desert. The female, however, was first 

 shot, when the cock, nothing daunted, took his partner's place, 

 and sat on the eggs, and in a day or two afterwards shared her 

 fate. In the nest were two eggs, which, with the exception 

 before mentioned, I have never known exceeded. Those in my 



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