HONEY BUZZARD. 217 



believe, taken most seasons (for when a nest is found, 

 the birds are generally caught by a trap placed in the 

 nest). They prove rather a good find for the poor 

 man, as a gentleman in the neighbourhood offers 

 fifteen shillings a piece for all eggs taken to him." 

 And the following is taken from Kelsall's List of the 

 Birds of Hampshire, 1890: "About 1860 it was known 

 that several pairs resorted to the New Forest ; 5 

 soon became the price of two British eggs, nearly 40 

 for a pair of birds ; by about 1870 the survivors were 

 driven away, and if any have returned those who know 

 it have exercised a becoming reticence ". 



And all this persecution is carried on against a bird 

 which is practically harmless to game ; its principal 

 food consisting of wasp grubs (though it is said to 

 avoid the full-grown insect on account of its sting). It 

 also feeds upon various other insects, in addition to 

 mice, lizards, frogs, and occasionally a small bird. 



The general colour of the upper plumage of the 

 Honey Buzzard is dark brown ; the head is grey, and 

 the under parts are brown ; some birds, however, are 

 found with the under parts of a uniform greyish white. 



The nest is said to be a broad structure of sticks 

 lined with leaves. In Europe, however, according to 

 Seebohm, it always used the nest of the Kite or Com- 

 mon Buzzard. The number of eggs taken in the New 

 Forest is generally two, but the bird sometimes lays 

 three. They much resemble those of the Kestrel in 

 colour ; but they differ in size and shape, being larger 

 and very round, the small end being little different 

 from the large end. 



It is said to be very easily tamed, in which state it 

 displays quite a gentle disposition. 



