18 FALCONIDJE. 



great interest to the ornithologist, from the description of 

 food on which it occasionally preys, and from which it has 

 received the appellation of honey buzzard, it differs from 

 the entire raptorial family in that respect ; and although 

 we may see the kestrel prey upon insects, and find their re- 

 mains in the stomach of the common buzzard, yet, in this 

 species, we have a form where nature has employed her de- 

 signs in placing a protection from the stings of those insects 

 whose habitations it may attack. This protection we see in the 

 close, scale-like feathers which defend the eyelids and the loral 

 space, and which forms an impervious covering at a point so 

 vulnerable to its winged assailants. Of what value this must 

 be, we may instance the bird captured by Mr. Selby in Nor- 

 thumberland, which had torn out from under the roots of a 

 platanus a wasp's nest, tearing the comb to pieces, u and 

 clearing it of the wasp, grubs, and immature young, with 

 which it had been filled." Two steel traps, baited with comb 

 from another nest, were placed in proximity to the one de- 

 stroyed ; and on the next day the honey buzzard was found 

 secured by its leg in one of the traps."* Another instance 

 of its capture, occurring near Belfast, is recorded as having 

 " the bill and forehead covered with cow dung in such a man- 

 ner as to lead to the supposition that the bird had been 

 searching for insects."f Another specimen, shot near Kil- 

 ruddery, county of Wicklow, came into the possession of Mr. 

 Warren. In some instances preying upon the same food as 

 the majority of the rap tores, one instance came under our 

 own observation from a male bird, sent in May, 1849, by 

 Captain C. Dunne, of Baronstown, to Mr. Glennon, to be 

 preserved, and which had been observed by that gentleman 

 to have been there for several succeeding seasons, summer and 

 winter. Having on many occasions observed it feeding upon 

 the bald coots which frequented the lake, he had one killed 

 and poisoned with strychnine, as a bait for the honey buz- 

 zard ; and on the next day it was found poisoned at some 

 distance from the spot. It is now preserved in the collection 

 at Baronstown. 



Habitat Southern Europe. 



* Selby. t Thompson. 



