HARRIERS. 193 



The range of the distribution of our British 

 species are, in some instances, extended, in others 

 the reverse ; the Rough-legged Buzzard is North 

 American and European ; the Common Buzzard, 

 on the authority of Dr Richardson, occurs in 

 North America, and we have a beautiful speci- 

 men, procured in Madeira by Mr Carruthers of 

 Dormont, while Temminck mentions it as Japa- 

 nese ; the Kite seems to be European only, and 

 even in its range is extremely local ; here it is 

 found in several districts in England, and is 

 abundant in many parts ot the West Highlands, 

 but is again not to be seen in other parts appa- 

 rently equally favourable. "We know the Honey 

 Buzzard as an extra European bird, on the autho- 

 rity of Mr Gould. The Harriers again as a genus, 

 are distributed over the world, are very closely 

 allied in form, colour, and also in habits ; but it is 

 not yet quite authenticated over how many quar- 

 ters of the globe the species of Britain range ; we 

 possess specimens from North America which we 

 consider identical, though the bird is described 

 with a ? by the learned authors of the Northern 

 Zoology : we have also Circi from India, Africa, 

 and New Holland, nearly allied, but they are all 

 distinct and well marked species. 



The eggs in this sub-family are characterized 

 by a pale ground, with cloudings of different 

 shades of brown ; but in the typical form, which 

 K 



