118 THE BUZZARDS 



then as now abounded, and this is at once a sufficient proof the 

 existence of buzzards was not inimical to a good head of game. 



Macgillivray, commenting on the charge of sluggishness which 

 has been made against the buzzard, remarks that it is " satisfied with 

 a sufficiency of food, and when they have no curiosity to satisfy, nor 

 any amusement to engage in, they naturally take their rest. . . . 

 Though neither heroes nor sages, they live quite as comfortable and 

 enjoy life quite as much as if, like the goshawk, they were to keep 

 the farmyard in perpetual terror, or like the eagle to soar beyond the 

 clouds ... to gaze on the unveiled splendour of the sun." 



The buzzard, or as it is more often called, the " common buzzard," 

 affords an interesting contrast with its relative the roughlegged-buzzard 

 in point of haunts, since the former seems to be the more adaptable 

 species, contriving to find congenial quarters either in unfrequented 

 moorlands, large woods, or marshy places, while the more eagle-like 

 rough-legged species shows a marked preference for marshy places, 

 and seems to avoid woods. In England, however, it evinces a decided 

 preference for rabbit-warrens, which are the reverse of marshy. 



In their flight the two species resemble one another, and both 

 are fond at times of soaring high in air in small parties, affording a 

 spectacle never to be forgotten by those who have had the good 

 fortune to watch it. On the whole the gyrations of the rough-legged 

 species are generally regarded as the more impressive, and while 

 turning and twisting in mid-air the white at the base of the tail forms 

 a conspicuous feature. 



As might be supposed, in their choice of food the two species 

 resemble one another, but the common buzzard seems again to be 

 the most able to make shift in time of scarcity, since it will not 

 disdain to eat even earthworms. Naumann relates an instance of a 

 common buzzard which in its dying throes ejected a huge bolus of 

 earthworms, most of them uninjured, as was shown by the fact that 

 they quickly strove to scuttle underground again. Moles, he also 

 remarks, they are fond of, since, to procure this prey, they will watch 

 patiently by mole-runs to pounce down on their victim at the slightest 



