116 THE BUZZARDS 



on this point. Eastward it ranges through Northern Siberia, but is replaced by 

 local forms in East Siberia and in Arctic North America. Its migratory move- 

 ments are irregular, and dependent on the severity of the winter, but it has been 

 recorded as reaching the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean, and in hard winters 

 large numbers pass along the west as well as the east coasts of the Black Sea, and 

 also to the northern shores of the Caspian. [F. c. R. J.] 



3. Migration. A bird-of -passage on its way to and from its breeding haunts in 

 Northern Europe ; a few sometimes pass the winter within our area if unmolested. 

 The usual date of its appearance is from 6th October to 12th November, but it has 

 been recorded as early as 15th August (cf. Clarke, Studies in Bird Migration, 1912, 

 vol. i. p. 159). It occurs chiefly in the north of Scotland and on the east of Great 

 Britain ; and in some autumns it is comparatively common, e.g. 1839, 1876, 1879, 

 1881, 1892, and 1903 (cf. Nelson, B. of Yorks., 1907, p. 328). In 1903 the move- 

 ment was noted in the south-east of Scotland, in the north-east of England, and 

 southwards to Norfolk, the birds appearing for the most part in the second week 

 of October (cf. Witherby and Ticehurst, British Birds, vol. i. p. 318). On the 

 spring passage the species is rare. To Ireland it is a rare visitor, chiefly to the 

 northern maritime districts in October and November (cf. Ussher and Warren, 

 B. of Ireland, 1900, p. 124). It frequently occurs in couples or small parties. 

 Most of the birds obtained in the British Isles are immature. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Does not breed in the British Isles, although erroneous 

 statements have been made to the effect that it formerly bred in the Devonian 

 Peninsula, Yorkshire, and in North-east Scotland. [F. c. R. J.] 



5. Food. Rabbits, leverets, wild-ducks, lemmings, mice, moles, lizards, 

 frogs, carrion. The food of the young is little known. In one case snow-buntings 

 were noted as the chief food (Pearson), [w. P. P.] 



