212 HONEY BUZZARD. 



part of the plumage is white, and a thick clothing 

 of down closely invests the whole of the body. 

 The tail hair brown, with bars of a deeper 

 colour. The skin I found to be tough and 

 thick. Upon opening the body, the craw and 

 stomach were found filled with wasps, as well 

 full grown as in the nymph and grub state ; no 

 remains or feathers of birds, or bones and fur of 

 mammalia, were to be seen, so that, at this season 

 at least, its food would appear to consist entirely 

 of insects, and particularly the Hymenoptera and 

 their larvae. The neck and gently curved bill, 

 as well as the straight claws of this bird, shew its 

 departure from the typical FalcOnidae, and its 

 decreased predatorial habits. It was in tolerable 

 condition, though not in the fat state of the 

 individual killed at Thrunton, and described by 

 the honourable Mr Liddell in the Transactions 

 of the Northumberland Natural History Society. 

 While alive, it shewed no irascibility of disposi- 

 tion, and did not attempt to strike with its 

 talons, and made no outcry. It was infested 

 with that unpleasant looking parasite, Hippomya 

 viridis, several specimens of which were secured/* 

 In the species before alluded to as being killed 

 iear Belfast, " The bill and forehead were 

 covered with cow dung in such a manner as to 

 lead them to suppose the bird had in that sub- 

 stance been scratching for insects. On examina- 



