i8 HONEY BUZZARD 



general appearance, but very much darker. They are of a 

 rich appearance, but even in the same nest vary from each 

 other. Some are but slightly dotted over at each end, the 

 middle being belted with a dark red band ; some are much 

 blotted with small spots. Others, again, are described by 

 Temminck as yellowish or buff white, marked with large 

 reddish brown patches, and often entirely of that colour, or 

 with numerous spots so close together that the white is 

 scarcely perceptible. 



They run through a great number of variations. The 

 ground colour will vary from that of cream to brick red, and 

 the markings from brick red to a deep rich purple blood red. 

 In some cases the ground colour is entirely obscured. Even 

 in the same clutch different varieties exist. The bird is so 

 rare that Mr. Saunders informs us that ^"40 have been given 

 for a pair of British-killed specimens, and $ became the 

 standard sum which collectors were willing to pay for a 

 couple of well-marked British eggs. 



