THE BUZZARD. 11 



The Buzzard pairs in the early part of spring ; the 

 parents show great attachment to their offspring, and are 

 said to associate with them for a much longer time than 

 do most hawks. 



The note of the Buzzard is a wild shrill scream ; this 

 has doubtless originated one of its local names, viz., the 

 Shreak. 



In confinement the Buzzard exhibits very little ferocity, 

 and soon becomes tolerably familiar and attached. It 

 readily undertakes the duties of incubation, and instances 

 are recorded in which a captive Buzzard has brought up a 

 brood of chickens, and behaved to them in a most affection- 

 ate and exemplary manner. 



The plumage of this bird is subject to considerable 

 variations, scarcely any two specimens being precisely 

 similar. The feathers fade and grow dull before moulting, 

 and in some cases the bars on the tail are the only distinct 

 markings left. The females are larger than the males, and 

 frequently darker in their general appearance. 



The entire length of the male is about twenty or twenty- 

 two inches; the beak is bluish-black, growing darker 

 towards the point; the cere yellow; the irides yellow; 

 the upper part of the head and cheeks are pale 

 brown, with longitudinal streaks of a darker shade; 

 the whole of the back, wing-coverts, upper tail-coverts, and 

 upper surface of the tail feathers are dark clove brown, 

 the last-named being barred with a lighter brown; the 

 former-named parts have lighter coloured edges; the wing 

 primaries are brownish-black ; the chin and throat almost 

 white ; front of the neck, breast, under wing-coverts, belly, 

 and thighs greyish-white, spotted and streaked with 

 yellowish-brown ; under tail-coverts white ; under surface 



