COMMON BUZZARD. 23 



Perhaps any but rather resolute nest-hunters might say, if they 

 knew the reception sometimes accorded by a Kite to a would- 

 be plunderer of its nest, "Well, the loss is not without its 

 compensation." For the Kite lights fiercely for its eggs or 

 young; and has been known to inflict damage of both dress and 

 person on a boy attempting to plunder its nest. It is a noble- 

 looking bird, but not distinguished, as the Falcons are, for 

 any very remarkable degree of boldness or courage. A fussy 

 old hen has been known to frighten one from his purposed foray 

 on her chickens, and he used of old to be chased (for sport, of 

 course) by a species of Falcon " to the manner " trained. The 

 nest, usually found high-up in a high tree in thick wood or 

 forest, is made of sticks and lined with any softer material found 

 handy, and contains two or three eggs or a dirty white colour, 

 with 'a few spots or blotchings of dull red. They cater liberally 

 enough for their young ; no less than twenty-two Moles having 

 been found in one nest. Fig. 1, plate II, 



17. SWALLOW-TAILED Kl^(Nauckrusfurcatus). 

 Very rarely seen indeed. 



18. COMMON BL T ZZARD-(#^o vulgans). 



Puttock. I well remember as a schoolboy in Essex, some 

 thirty odd years ago, that the nests of the Puttock, as the 

 Buzzard was invariably called in that district, were more fre- 

 quently found by us than those of any other wood-building 

 Hawk ; and many a hatch of young Puttocks it fell to my lot to 

 see brought within the old school-gates. Whether the Buzzard is 

 equally abundant there now I cannot tell. It seems to rne that 

 not only Hawks, but very many of the smaller birds as well, 

 are much less numerous now than in the days of my boyhood ; 

 and I have heard other nest-lovers make the same remark. 



In rocky countries the Buzzard sometimes builds her nest on 

 precipices, or steep banks ; but generally, in our own country, 

 some fork in a tree supplies either the site for the intended nest, 

 or possibly the nest itself; for, like several other of the Hawks 

 already noticed, the Buzzard seems to think there is a deal of 

 sound sense in the saying, " Foolish birds build fine nests for 

 wise Hawks to live in them," and acts accordingly. The eggs 

 are from two to four in number, of considerable size, and some 

 of them approaching very nearly in general look and colour to 

 the Kite's egg. It just as frequently seems to wait until its prey 

 comes to it, as trouble itself to go far in search of it. It is 

 rather a sluggard and a coward to have so much the air of a fine- 

 looking bird about it. Figr. 2, plate II. 



