HONEY-BUZZARDS. 113 



to say how accurate or particular any such may be ; but this I 

 know, that the best old maps of that kingdom are very defective. 



The great obvious defect that I have remarked in all maps of 

 Scotland that have fallen in my way is, a want of a coloured line 

 or stroke, that shall exactly define the just limits of that district 

 called the Highlands. Moreover, all the great avenues to that 

 mountainous and romantic country want to be well distinguished. 

 The military, roads formed by General Wade are so great and 

 Roman-like an undertaking that they well merit attention. My 

 old map, Moll's map, takes notice of Fort William ; but could 

 not mention the other forts that have been erected long since : 

 therefore a good representation of the chain of forts should not 

 be omitted. 



The celebrated zigzag up the Coryarich must not be passed 

 over. Moll takes notice of Hamilton and Drumlanrig, and such 

 capital houses ; but a new survey, no doubt, should represent 

 every seat and castle remarkable for any great event, or celebrated 

 for its paintings, &c. Lord Breadalbane's seat and beautiful 

 policy are too curious and extraordinary to be omitted. 



The seat of the Earl of Eglintoun, near Glasgow, is worthy of 

 notice. The pine-plantations of that nobleman are very grand 

 and extensive indeed. I am, &c. 



LETTER XLIII. To T. PENNANT, ESQ. 



A PAIR of honey-buzzards, buteo apivorus, sive vespivorus Raii, 

 built them a large shallow nest, composed of twigs and lined 

 with dead beechen leaves, upon a tall slender beech near the 

 middle of Selborne-hanger, in the summer of 1780. In the mid- 

 dle of the month of June a bold boy climbed this tree, though 

 standing on so steep and dizzy a situation, and brought down an 

 egg, the only one in the nest, which had been sat on for some 

 time, and contained the embryo of a young bird. The egg was 

 smaller, and not so round as those of the common buzzard ; was 

 dotted at each end with small red spots, and surrounded in the 

 middle with a broad bloody zone. 



The hen-bird was shot, and answered exactly to Mr. Ray's 

 description of that species ; had a black cere, short thick legs, 

 and a long tail. When on the wing this species may be easily 

 distinguished from the common buzzard by its hawk-like appear- 



