46 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



The late Mr Cassin in his " Birds of California and Texas," 

 published in 1865, states that the Swallow-Tailed Hawk is espe- 

 cially abundant in the Southern States ; and Dr S. W. Woodhouse, 

 in the account of the birds observed during an expedition down 

 the Zuni and Colorado rivers, mentions that it is common in Texas, 

 and in the Creek and Cherokee nations. " It appears," says that 

 writer, " to have a fondness for frequenting streams ; along the 

 Arkansas and its tributaries it was very abundant." * But not- 

 withstanding this abundance, specimens are by no means easily 

 procured. m 



THE COMMON BUZZAED. 



BVTEO VULGARIS. 

 An Clamhan. 



To many persons it will seem unwise, I daresay, to call this 

 Buzzard a useful bird in game preserves, yet I cannot but think 

 that if the experiment were made of allowing it to fulfil the ends 

 for which nature designed it, our native game birds would benefit 

 by the trial. 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 con- 

 tent with those that, through wounds or a naturally feeble consti- 

 tution, are unable to save themselves. In this way strong birds 

 only are left, and a healthy breed ensues. Let any of our pro- 

 prietors of moors, who are jealous of the daring prowess of eagles 

 and lordly peregrines, act upon this hint, and I will venture to say 

 we should have fewer instances of disease among game birds to 

 chronicle. 



Although this Buzzard is still found in some numbers in the 

 Inner Hebrides, where it breeds, I have not been able to trace it 

 to the outer islands. On the whole of the western mainland, 

 however, it is met with sparingly, and appears in some of the 

 lower districts more numerously in autumn than at other seasons, 

 being in this respect somewhat like the next species. It is fre- 



* See " Report of an Expedition down the Zuni and Colorado Kivers," by 

 Captain L. Sitgreaves. Washington, 1854. 



