BIRDS OF PREY. 31 



The Common Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris) is the most 

 frequent species, and indeed may be called common. 

 It is more discursive in its habits than the other two, 

 but appears to prefer the neighbourhood of the older 

 woods and plantations, while the bare heathy tracts 

 which approach the moorland in character are the choice 

 of the rough-legged and honey buzzarHs. 



The common buzzard appears a much larger bird 

 when on the wing than it really is, especially when seen 

 soaring, as it sometimes does, at a great elevation ; but 

 when hawking for food it flies at a very short distance 

 from the ground, and with a peculiar gliding, noiseless 

 flight. It seems especially fond of beating along the 

 outside of plantations which are surrounded by hedges, 

 pouncing on the rabbits which sally out in the evenings 

 to feed, arid which form its favourite repast. 



Inkersal Forest, about three miles south-west of Oiler- 

 ton, is a favourite haunt of the Rough-legged Buzzard 

 (. lagopus), several having been there met with during 

 the last few years. I obtained a very fine male which 

 was shot there by a keeper in 1857 while on the wing. 

 The shot took effect and brought him down, but, as it 

 afterwards proved, he was not seriously hurt, excepting 

 that one of his wings was broken. As soon as the bird 

 dropped on the heather a retriever, accompanying the 

 man, started off at once to fetch him in, but no sooner 

 had the dog approached, and was about seizing the 

 buzzard in his mouth, when, doubtless much to his 

 astonishment, the bird of which he expected to make so 

 easy a capture at once sprang on his back, and began to 

 ply his beak and talons in good earnest. For a short 

 time the unequal contest continued, the poor dog in vain 

 attempting to free himself from his antagonist, who 



