HONEY BUZZARD. 99 



first four deeply notched. Tail long. Tarsi short, half-plumed, the rest 

 reticulated ; toes of moderate length and strength ; the claws only slightly 

 curved. 



THE genus PERNIS was proposed by Baron Cuvier for 

 the Honey Buzzard of Europe, to separate and distinguish 

 it from the true Buzzards, on account of its less powerful 

 beak, the lore, or space between the beak and the eye, 

 being defended by scale-like feathers, and the manner in 

 which the legs were plumed, or otherwise covered and 

 protected. 



The Honey Buzzard is a rare species in this country, 

 more frequently met with from spring to autumn, 

 which, coupled with the circumstance of its food, when 

 ascertained, being almost entirely composed of insects, has 

 led to the supposition that this bird is only a summer 

 visitor. M. Vieillot says of this species, which is not 

 common in France, that it seldom flies except from one 

 tree to another, or from bush to bush, and then always 

 low, and that it runs when on the ground with great 

 rapidity, like our common fowls, a circumstance which is 

 also noticed by Willughby. Several specimens taken in 

 Northumberland have come under the examination of Mr. 

 Selby of Twizel House ; and some interesting observations 

 in reference to the habits of the Honey Buzzard are con- 

 tained in the annual address of Sir William Jar dine, Bart., 

 to the Members of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club in 

 September, 1836. 



" The district around Twizel appears to have something 

 attractive to this species, for within these few years several 

 specimens have been procured both in the adult and 

 immature plumage. The bird in question was accidentally 

 observed to rise from the situation of a wasp's nest, which 

 it had been attempting to excavate, or, in fact, to a certain 

 extent had accomplished ; and the large hole which had 



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