204 COMMON BUZZARD. 



] body being thrown upwards and the light falling 

 1 on the clear and silvery tints of the base of the 

 feathers. The Buzzard is a fine accompaniment 

 to the landscape, whether sylvan or wild and rocky. 

 In confinement, the Buzzard becomes very 

 familiar, is easily tamed, and as easily kept. Some 

 interesting anecdotes are related by Mr Thompson 

 in his " Irish Raptores." A male Buzzard, which 

 had been brought up from the nest, " when let 

 off in the morning, his favourite perch was upon 

 some stacks, where he remained patiently watching 

 for mice, which he has been seen to catch, but he 

 was not always successful, sometimes dashing his 

 talons into the straw and bringing them out 

 empty. He preferred mice to rats, though very 

 expert at killing both. He was quite a pet bird ; 

 one of his favourite tricks was to fly on his 

 master's feet and untie his shoe strings. But he 

 was likewise very bold, and taking a dislike to 

 a certain individual, flew at him whenever he 

 appeared, and endeavoured to strike him about 

 the head. This bird occasionally astonished 

 strangers, by smartly striking them on the hat, so 

 as to send it over their ears." * 



In geographical range, the Buzzard is pretty 



general over Europe, except in the low and marshy 



'. districts, or the flat and sandy steppes. In Norta 



Mag. of Zool. and Dot. vol. ii 



