268 THE HARRIERS. 



and autumn, when on the way to and from its breeding- 

 grounds amongst the f jails of the far north. It builds as 

 well on the summit, or shelf, of a precipitous rock, as in 

 trees. M. von Wright found its nest in northern Lapland, 

 at Karesuando (68 25' N. latitude), at the top of a lofty 

 pine, and describes it as being three feet and a half in 

 diameter. The female lays from three to five eggs, greyish- 

 white in colour, and blotched at the larger end with dark 

 brown spots. Migrates. 



The food of this bird is in great degree the same as that 

 of the common buzzard. It also preys freely on the lemming 

 which abounds in the higher latitudes. 



The Honey Buzzard (Bi-Vrdk, or Bee-Vrak, Sw. ; B. 

 apivorus, Ray) was scarce with us, as indeed is the case 

 generally in Sweden. Migrates. 



The habits of this bird greatly resemble those of the 

 common and the rough-legged buzzard ; and like them, says 

 Nilsson, it can capture nothing on the wing. It feeds 

 greatly on insects ; and the bee, the wasp, the humble-bee, &c., 

 have in it about their worst enemy ; for it scatters abroad 

 their nests, and bears their young, still enveloped in the cells 

 of the comb, to its own family. It also feeds on field-mice, 

 moles, frogs, lizards, and innoxious snakes ; at times on lob- 

 worms and snails ; and when impelled by hunger, does not, 

 it is said, despise carrion. 



The honey buzzard bred occasionally in my vicinity. It 

 builds in trees, and, according to Kjaerbolling, lines its nest 

 with green twigs, to which the leaves are still attached. The 

 female lays from three to four eggs, in shape and size 

 resembling those of a barn-door fowl, of a yellowish-red 

 colour, with large red-brown spots and blotches, which are 



