274 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



HIND VIEW OF TARSUS OF BUZZARD, SHOWING 

 THE PLATED ARRANGEMENT OF SCALES (A). 



sluggish habits, possessing neither the courage of the Eagles, nor the dash and adroitness of the 

 Falcons, in capturing their prey. Africa produces some species which, as regards plumage, are an 



exception to the general rule, the Augur and Jackal Buzzards 

 (Buteo augur and JButeo jackal) being rather handsome birds, 

 their plumage being a mixture of black and chestnut. 



THE COMMON BUZZAED (Buteo* vulgar*). 



This is a strictly European bird, although it has been 

 stated to occur in Central Asia, and to sometimes wander into 

 North- eastern Africa. Like all other birds of prey, it is 

 rather rare in Great Britain, but it still breeds in certain 

 localities, although the great majority of specimens which are 

 killed in Britain are found in the fall of the year. The 

 power of the Common Buzzards to attack large game is 

 very limited, and Mr. Robert Grayt observes : " To many 

 persons it will seem unwise, I dare say, 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 instru- 

 ment 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 constitution, are unable to save themselves. In 



this way only strong birds are left, and a healthy breed ensues. 



Let any of our proprietors 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 amongst game birds to chronicle." 



Although the Buzzard does not quarter the ground like 



a Harrier, and search for its prey on the wing, it may not 



unfrequently be seen circling in the air at a considerable height, 



generally over the place which contains its nest, but as a rule 



it perches on some stone or similar resting-place, whence ic 



watches for its prey. When flying it utters a clear loud cry, 



which has been described as " mewing." Its principal food consists 



of Field Mice, but it also devours Moles, young birds, the 



caterpillars of Hawk Moths (Sphingidce), Grasshoppers, and it 



will also occasionally feed on carrion, or on dead fish cast up 



on the sea-shore. When migrating in the autumn, which it 



does in considerable numbers together, a good many are caught 



for the purposes of food, and the manner of catching them is 



thus described by Nilsson in his work on the birds of Sweden : 



" In October, when they pass through Skane on their passage to 



the south, they remain for some time on the outermost point of 



land to await a suitable westerly wind to cross. Large numbers HIND VIEW OF TARSrs OF SERPENT EAGLE < 



J SHOWING THE RETICULATED ARRANGE- 



collect and roost at night in the trees (especially in the willows) MENI or SCALES. 

 which grow there. When the darkness sets in, two men go in 



company to catch them, one with a sack, and the other with a stout cudgel. The latter climbs quietly 



up into the tree, where he can just distinguish the bird, whilst the other remains below; and so soon 



* Buteo, Lat., a Buzzard. t "Birds of the West of Scotland," p. 46. 



