COMMON BUZZARD. ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD. 17 



of incubation its movements are extremely beautiful ; ascend- 

 ing with a spiral flight to an immense altitude, it almost re- 

 calls to mind the appearance presented by some of the larger 

 gulls when, in a similar manner, moving imperceptibly in 

 the upper regions of the air. Even by the poet the taineness 

 of its habits has been recognised : 



" The noble buzzard ever pleased me best ; 

 Of small renown, 'tis true, for, not to lie, 

 We call him but a hawk by courtesy." 



Indigenous. 



SPECIES 15 THE ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD. 



Buteo lagopus. Briss. 

 Buse pattue. Temm. 



THE ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD differs but little from the 

 common species, except in the tarsi being feathered, almost 

 similar to the golden eagle. Of extreme rarity in its occur- 

 rence, but few specimens have been obtained in Ireland. 



One adult male, purchased by Dr. Marshall in 1831, was 

 captured near Dundonald, in the county of Down, "by being 

 knocked upon the head with a stick when gorged. On dis- 

 section, the remains of birds, and a full-grown rat, torn into 

 four pieces, were observed in the stomach."* 



Another very fine specimen, which came under our own 

 notice in Mr. Glennon's, was purchased by Dr. Ball for the 

 University Museum. It was shot in Kildare, and, on dissec- 

 tion, the stomach was found empty. Described by Audubon 

 as possessing even more sluggish habits than the preceding, 

 he has observed of it : " The greatest feat I have seen them 

 performing was scrambling at the edge of the water to secure 

 a lethargic frog ; and I have frequently put up one that 

 seemed watching for food at the edge of a ditch, long after 

 sunset." 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



GENUS VII. PERNIS (BEE HAWK). 

 SPECIES 16 THE HONEY BUZZARD. 



Pernis apivorus. Cuvier, 

 Buse londree. Temm. 



EQUAL in rarity to the rough-legged, the honey buzzard 

 has occurred in about the same number of instances. Of 



* Thompson. 



c 



