64 RAPTORES. BUZZARD. 



near pieces of water, on account of the Libellulae, and other 

 aquatic insects. 



Nest, &c. It breeds in lofty trees, forming a nest of twigs, lined with 

 wool, and other soft materials. 



The eggs are small, in proportion to the size of the bird, 

 of a yellowish white, marked with numerous spots and stains 

 of reddish-brown, sometimes so confluent as to make them 

 appear almost entirely brown. 



It is a native of eastern climes, and, according to TEM- 

 MINCK, is as rare in Holland as in England. In the south 

 of France it is more abundant, but migratory. 



PLATE 8. Figure of the natural size. 

 General Bill bluish-black ; slender, and weak ; bending gradually 



from tne ^ ase to tne **P ; W ^ t ^ ie comrmssure nearly 

 straight. Cere greenish-grey. Irides yellow. The 

 space between the eyes and bill covered with small, 

 round, and closely-set feathers. Crown of the head 

 clove-brown, tinged with bluish-grey. Upper parts um- 

 ber-brown, more or less varied, and edged with clove 

 and yellowish-brown. Throat yellowish- white, with a 

 few brown streaks down the shafts of the feathers. Un- 

 der parts yellowish-white, occasionally tinged with buff- 

 orange; with bars and triangular spots of chesnut-brown. 

 Tail long, umber-brown, with three blackish-brown bars. 

 Feet and tarsi yellow, reticulated, and feathered a little be- 

 low the knee. Claws black, and not much hooked. 



GENUS CIRCUS, BECHST. HARRIER. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill bending from the base, weak, much compressed, and 

 forming a narrow rounded culmen ; the tomia of the upper 

 mandible exhibiting a very small festoon or sinuation near 



