BIRDS OF THE COMMONS 75 



Language. A harsh croak. 



Habits. When alarmed it generally crouches motion- 

 less, and usually escapes observation, as the plumage 

 harmonizes with the ground both in summer and winter. 

 Flight somewhat like the Red Grouse's. In winter 

 they congregate, and frequent lower elevations than in 

 summer. 



Food. Green shoots and various berries. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. In a hollow in the ground. Often among stones 

 on a mountain top. 



Materials. If any, a few heather-stalks and pieces 

 of grass. 



Eggs. Eight to ten, or more. Yellowish white, 

 blotched and spotted with rich dark brown. Much like 

 the Red Grouse's, but less marked. 



COMMON BUZZARD (Buteo vulgaris). 



Rare and decreasing. Still found in the West, Wales 

 and Scotland. 



Haunts. Mountains and wild forests. 



Plumage. Upper parts dark brown, mottled with 

 darker brown. Wings blackish brown. Tail dark 

 brown, with twelve transverse lighter bars ; under parts 

 yellowish white, longitudinally marked with brown. 

 Bill blackish horn-colour. Cere and legs yellow. Length 

 20 in. Female, altogether lighter ; length 22 in. 

 Young, much like female. Nestling covered with 

 greyish white down. The plumage of this species varies 

 considerably. 



Language. A melancholy kind of mewing. 



Habits. Rather sedentary, remaining perched motion- 

 less for long periods of time. On the wing somewhat 

 sluggish, but it delights in soaring upwards in a series of 

 graceful gyrations. 



