8 BIRD LIFE IN ENGLAND. 



there is no possible reason why the beautiful plumage and 

 startling cry of this hawk should be any longer banished. 



I am inclined to think that the species of prey most 

 naturally sought after is the rabbit. It feeds, however, for 

 necessity has no law, upon a great variety of other food. 

 It destroys numberless moles of which it seems particularly 

 fond, as well as field-mice, leverets, rats, snakes, frogs, toads, 

 the young of game and many birds, worms, insects and 

 newts. " The way in which the buzzard procures moles is, 

 it is said, by watching patiently by their haunts until the 

 moving of the earth caused by the subterraneous burrowings, 

 points out to him their exact locality, and the knowledge 

 thus acquired he immediately takes advantage of to their 

 destruction. His feet, legs, and bill being often found 

 covered with earth or mud is in this manner accounted for." 



These two hawks have often roused the ire of highland 

 and lowland keepers respectively, but we have mentioned 

 them somewhat at length because they are amongst the 

 commonest (if the expression may be used) of our rarer 

 hawks. Others of their family are hardly ever seen. The 

 red-footed falcon is a very rare visitor indeed ; the goshawk 

 keeps himself wisely to the fastnesses of the Orkneys, where 

 he might well be allowed to take his toll of mountain hares 

 and rabbits. 



The honey buzzard is almost as rare since the villainous 

 greed of collectors ransacked the New Forest and other breed- 

 ing grounds for eggs or young " in the down." The marsh 

 harrier is far less common than it was, though its diet affords 

 no justification for its destruction. " It feeds itself and 

 nestlings," says Atkinson, "with young water birds as its 

 name suggests. Young water birds may be found in its 

 haunts, or young rabbits or birds, a few mice or rats doubt- 

 less being not altogether unworthy of notice to such hungry 

 customers as four young harpies." 



The hen harrier, the blue hawk, is a shade worse in the 

 game preserver's eyes. Not very long ago I was resting 



