119 



HONEY BUZZARD.* 



Sept. 23, 1826. A honey buzzard was trapped 

 at Bottisham to-day at a wasp's-nest. The keeper 

 had observed it there previously several different 

 times, tearing the nest in pieces, and on one occasion 

 actually carrying away large pieces of the comb in its 

 bill and talons.f The plumage of this individual seem- 

 ed to indicate that it was a young bird of the year. 

 When the mouth was opened, a very perceptible 

 smell of honey proceeded from the gape. This spe- 

 cies of buzzard has been killed in this neighbour- 

 hood in three or four instances. 



MARSH HARRIER. J 



THIS species of harrier is very plentiful in the 

 low grounds of Cambridgeshire, making its nest on 

 the ground among tall grass and rushes. I have had 

 the newly-fledged young brought me from Burwell 

 Fen, the second week in May. These have uniform- 

 ly wanted the yellow patch on the crown of the 

 head, so conspicuous in the adult bird. It is rather 

 a variable species in respect of plumage, being some- 



* Pernis apivorus, Gould. 



t Mr. Selby has also trapped this species at a wasp's nest, in 

 Northumberland. See Proceed, of the Berwickshire Natural- 

 ists' Club for 1836, p. 109, where he has given a detailed account 

 of the capture. 



J Circus rufus, Selby. 



