BRITISH BIRDS. 45 



Birds of this kind vary much : in some, the 

 crown and back part of the head are yellow ; and 

 in one described by Latham, the whole bird was 

 uniformly of a chocolate brown, with a tinge of 

 rust colour. The above figure and description 

 were taken from a very fine living bird, sent for 

 the use of this work by the late John Silvertop, 

 Esq., of Minsteracres, Northumberland, which very 

 nearly agreed with that figured in the Planches 

 Enluminees* 



The Moor Buzzard preys on rabbits, on young 

 wild ducks, and other water fowl ; and likewise 

 feeds on fish, frogs, reptiles, and even insects : its 

 haunts are in hedges and bushes near pools, 

 marshes, and rivers that abound with fish. It 

 builds its nest a little above the surface of the 

 ground, or in hillocks covered with thick herbage : 

 and lays three or four eggs of a whitish colour, 

 irregularly sprinkled with dusky spots. Though 

 smaller, it is bolder and more active than the 

 Common Buzzard ; and, when pursued, faces its 

 antagonist, and makes a vigorous defence. 



* According to Temminck, this bird in the adult state corresponds 

 to the Falco Rufus of authors, La Harpaye, Buff., the Harpy Falcon 

 of Latham. It is after the second moult that it forms the Falco 

 ceruginosus, Lath. Le Busard de Marais, Buff. 



