THE BUZZARD. 71 



M. Fontaine's account of a tame buzzard. 



young are hatched, she attends them with the 

 utmost assiduity. 



The buzzard may be tamed with tolerable faci- 

 lity, and has sometimes been known to prove an 

 attached and faithful domestic; as will appear 

 from the following anecdote, related by M. Fon- 

 taine, and inserted in the Comte de Buffon's 

 Natural History: " In 1763," says this gentle- 

 man, " a buzzard was brought to me that had 

 been taken in a snare. It was at first extremely 

 wild and unpromising. I undertook to tame it; 

 and I succeeded, by leaving it to fast, and coiv- 

 straining it to come and eat out of my hand. 

 By pursuing this plan, I brought it to be very 

 familiar : and, after having shut it up about six 

 weeks, I began to allow it a little liberty, taking 

 the precaution, however, to tie both pinions of 

 its wings. In this condition it walked out into 

 my garden, and returned when I called it to feed. 

 After some time, when 1 judged that I could 

 trust to its fidelity, I removed the ligatures; and 

 fastened a small bell, an inch and a half in dia- 

 meter, above its talon, and also attached on the 

 breast a bit of copper having my name engraved 

 on it. I then gave it entire liberty, which it 

 soon abused ; for it took wing, and flew as far as 

 the forest of Belesme. I gave, it up for lost: but 

 four hours after, I saw it rush into my hall, which 

 was open, pursued by five other buzzards, who 

 Jmd constrained it to seek again its asylum. 



" After this adventure, it ever preserved its 



