16 FALCONID^:. 



" She brings us fish ; she brings us spring, 



Good times, fair weather, warmth, and plenty ; 

 Fine store of shad, trout, herring, ling, 



Sheep's head and drum, and old wives' dainty. 

 Yo, ho, my hearts ! let's seek the deep, 



Ply every oar, and cheerly wish her, 

 Still as the bending net we sweep, 



' God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher !' 



" She rears her young in yonder tree, 



She leaves her faithful mate to mind 'em ; 

 Like us, for fish, she sails to sea, 



And, plunging, shows us where to find 'em. 

 Yo, ho, my hearts! let's seek the deep, 



Ply every oar, and cheerly wish her, 

 While the slow bending net we sweep, 



* God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher !' " 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



GENUS VI BUTEO (BUZZARD). 



SPECIES 14 THE COMMON BUZZARD. 



Buteo vulgaris. Bechstein. 

 La Buze. Temm. 



Kite. Goshawk. 



THIS fine species appears chiefly confined to the north of Ire- 

 land, where it occurs in limited numbers, breeding along the 

 basaltic precipices of the coast. The very few cases received 

 by Mr. Glennon for preservation have been forwarded from 

 the northern counties invariably. 



Of large size, and characterized by habits the most inac- 

 tive of the family, the buzzard possesses little of that energy 

 and determination so remarkable in the preceding birds. In- 

 capable, from the broad, rounded shape of the wings, of per- 

 forming the same rapid flight as the falcons, the prey is never 

 attempted to be obtained by pursuit ; but almost similar to 

 the barn owl, we observe the light, buoyant flight of the 

 buzzard performed at a short distance from the ground, cir- 

 cling several times the same spot in its search, over the field 

 or the heath of the hill side, and dropping instantly upon 

 whatever gives evidence of life beneath ; possessing little dis- 

 crimination, the partridge with wings extended in the stubble 

 field, the lizard basking upon the heath, or the frog by the 

 margin of the water, are indifferently stooped to. Yet inac- 

 tive as the buzzard may occasionally appear, during the season 



