112 FALCONIDJE. 



breeds regularly. In Ireland, according to Thompson, it 

 was generally to be found in suitable localities, but in 

 Mr. Watters's opinion was chiefly confined to the northern 

 counties, where it bred along the basaltic precipices of the 

 coast. It is doubtful whether such is now the case. The 

 continued destruction of this species in the British Islands 

 is a matter to be deplored by others than ornithologists. 

 Mr. Hepburn writing to Macgillivray says : " Besides 

 devouring mice, the Buzzard is of great service to the 

 farmer in effectually driving off the Ring-Doves from the 

 corn ; " and Mr. Robert Gray remarks that if it were allowed 

 to fulfil the ends for which nature designed it, our native 

 game-birds would benefit by the trial, adding that, " So far as 

 my own observations have extended, the Common Buzzard is 

 just the kind of instrument wanted to clear off sickly young 

 birds, which on arriving at maturity yield an offspring of a 

 degenerate breed. Of somewhat sluggish habits, it does not 

 care to interfere with strong-winged birds, being content 

 with those that, through wounds or a naturally feeble con- 

 stitution, are unable to save themselves. In this way strong 

 birds only are left, and a healthy breed ensues." There can 

 be little doubt that the conclusions of these observers are 

 indisputable. 



On the continent of Europe this Buzzard is very generally 

 distributed, and in some countries is abundant. The most 

 northern limit of its breeding-range is not perhaps very 

 accurately known ; but Herr Wallengren was probably cor- 

 rect when he put it at 62 N. lat. for Norway and 66 for 

 Sweden. In Finland, as far north as Kajana, it is stated 

 by Dr. Malmgren to breed and to be the commonest of the 

 Falconidce ; but further eastward Prof. Lilljeborg found it 

 rare between Lake Onega and Archangel. From this point 

 its course is not easily traced, few of the Russian ornitho- 

 logists having met with it except in the southern provinces 

 of their country ; but Dr. von Middendorff found it breed- 

 ing not uncommonly on the Stannovoi Mountains in the 

 extreme east of Siberia, particularly remarking that the 

 example he obtained was not referable to the Buteo 



