THE BTJZZAHD. 



Observations of M. Buffon. 



awkward appearance. But when they are seven 

 months old, and have attained their full growth 

 and size, they display much grace and case ia 

 their motions, which well accord with theif 

 stately figure. Thunberg observes, that they are 

 not to be reared without great difficulty, as they 

 are very apt to break their legs. 



M. de Buffon, speaking of the shrewdness and 

 cunning of this bird, seems to have attributed to 

 it a greater degree of intelligence than it really 

 possesses: " When a painter," says he, " was 

 employed in drawing one of the secretary fal- 

 cons, it approached him, looked attentively upon 

 his paper, stretched out its neck, and erected the 

 feathers of its head, as if admiring its own figure. 

 It often came with its wings raised, and its head 

 projected, to observe what he was doing." This 

 stretching out of its head and erection of its 

 crest, however, was, in all probability, merely oc- 

 casioned by that love which almost all tame 

 birds evince of having their heads scratched: 

 and these birds, in particular, when domes- 

 ticated, are known to approach every person 

 who comes near, and to stretch out their necks 

 by way of making known their desire. 



THE BUZZARD. 



THIS bird is about twenty inches in length, 

 and four feet and a half in breadth when tlie 



