134 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



The male and female are so widely different that they 

 were formerly regarded as distinct species. The pre- 

 vailing colour of the former is slate-grey ; of the latter, 

 mottled-brown. A nest with four eggs was taken on 

 Shawbury Heath, May 25th, 1890, and the eggs and hen 

 bird are now in the possession of Mr. Jas. W. Lloyd, of 

 Kington, Herefordshire. 



Montagu's Harrier. A female was shot at Petton about 

 C. cineraceus. 1860. All the Harriers seek their prey 



while skimming along just above the 

 ground, which they " quarter " like a trained spaniel. 



COMMON BUZZARD B. A handsome bird, and as it 

 Btiteo lagopus. is one of the largest of our birds of 



prey, it rarely escapes the gun of the 

 gamekeeper. It was formerly common, and even now a 

 year seldom passes without one or more being sent in 

 to the bird-stuffers from different parts of the County. 

 The Buzzard can be distinguished on the wing by its 

 habit of flying round in spiral curves. It is rather lazy, 

 however, and often remains perched on a tree for a long 

 time. It is a great pity that the Buzzard is being so 

 rapidly exterminated, as it feeds chiefly on Voles, and 

 is very slightly injurious to game see page 75. 



Rough-legged Buzzard. A rare wanderer, visiting us from 



B. lagopus. Northern Europe in Autumn or Winter. 



It gets its name from having the legs 



feathered down to the toes. Used to occur near Ludlow, 



Pontesbury, and the Stiperstones, but the most recent 



records are at Wytheford (1871), a pair near Ellesmere 



(1877), Moston, near Hawkstone (1889), at Stretton 



(1895), an d at Weston (1895) see P a e 7^- 



