HONEY BUZZAED. 265 



to the far north of Lapland; common over all Finland. 

 I take three to be the general number of eggs, although I 

 have found more in a nest. The egg very much resembles 

 that of the last, but is generally deeper coloured, with, if I 

 may use the term, a bolder character. I have, however, seen 

 specimens of both quite white. 



Subgen. Perm's, Cuv. 



Tarsi half feathered. The nose between the eye and the 

 base of the beak, covered with a little close plume of feathers, 

 instead of bristles, as in every other bird of prey. 



The above characters will always distinguish this buzzard 

 from any other. 



17. PERNIS APIVORUS, Cuv. Bi-Vrak. The Honey Buzzard. 



D. F. 



About the size of the last; tail two inches beyond 

 the closed wings, greyish-brown, with three or four 

 large broad dark bands, and several smaller. The body 

 colour varies so much, that it is difficult to give even a 

 good general description ; usually grey-brown, lightest 

 on the head; breast white, barred with brown. When 

 flying, it may be distinguished by the wings appearing 

 white underneath, the feathers tipped with black, and 

 having dark transverse bands. The male may always be 

 known by the smaller size and the light ash-blue head. 

 Is sparingly dispersed during the summer over the 

 middle of Scandinavia; is said to breed also in Lap- 

 land, but I could never either see or hear of it there. 

 With us in the middle of Sweden, they go to nest 

 latest of any of the genus, and we rarely find eggs till 

 June. I often take the nest of the common buzzard 

 early, or in the middle of April. Nest of the honey buz- 

 zard usually placed in a fir, invariably, as far as I can see, 

 in a small forest mixed with much birch ; and in every nest 

 which I have seen I have observed some green birch boughs 

 interwoven with the dry fir sticks, of which the nest is 

 chiefly composed. Eggs, two. I never saw more ; very like 



