10 FAMILIAR WILDBIRDS. 



are " conspicuous by their absence/' This is probably due 

 to its more secluded habits. 



The food of this bird is somewhat miscellaneous, and 

 includes rabbits, moles, birds, and reptiles. It prefers 

 watching for its prey from some advantageous look-out, 

 such as a prominent bough or some projecting crag, and it 

 will remain in such a position for a considerable time, 

 exhibiting meanwhile the most commendable patience. 

 When hard pressed by hunger, however, it takes to its 

 wings, and sails slowly along in search of food ; and it has 

 been noticed that these flights or beats are repeated with 

 tolerable regularity, the bird generally exploring the 

 different parts of its circuit in the same order. 



The Buzzard is occasionally observed at a considerable 

 height in the air, slowly sailing in circles, but it is far 

 more commonly stationed in a tree, and when approached, 

 to quote the Journal of a Naturalist, "it bustles hastily 

 out with a confused and hurried flight, indicative of fear." 



The nest of the Common Buzzard is as a rule built in 

 the forked branches of a tree; it is composed of sticks and 

 twigs, and sparingly lined with wool, moss, or any other 

 soft material. If the bird can find an old nest of some 

 other large bird it makes use of it in preference to building 

 one for itself. In the more wild and mountainous parts of 

 the country the Buzzard builds in tall crags, crevices in the 

 rock, and ledges in the cliff ; in all these cases great care 

 and caution are shown in selecting places tolerably secure 

 from molestation and annoyance. The eggs vary in number 

 from two to four: they are more round than oval, and differ 

 in colour; some are quite white, and others are a dull 

 bluish or greenish -white, blotched and streaked with pale 

 yellowish-brown. 



