Tue ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876. 4829 
inimical to game, destroyed, both,by the common and roughlegged buzzard, 
more than counter-balances any occasional raids on the rabbit-warren. A 
friend lately told me that in June, 1872, he went down a rock in North 
Wales to a buzzard’s nest: there were two young partly-fledged birds in 
the nest, and besides them lay two moles, two stoats and a pine marten. 
I could say much more on this subject did time permit. I have read 
Captain Morant’s most amusing and interesting book on ‘ Game Preservers 
and Bird Preservers,’ and although I fully endorse his opinions on many 
points, I cannot agree with him in recommending the annihilation of the 
larger Falconide. There is a great deal of sound common sense in his 
book ; but there are always two sides to a question.—John Cordeaux ; Great 
Cotes, Ulceby, February 4, 1876. 
Notes on the Roughlegged Buzzard.— Confirming Mr. Gunn’s experience 
(S. 8. 4786), I also found unmistakable fur of the rabbit in a roughlegged 
buzzard shot here on January 22nd. With regard to the common buzzards 
mentioned by Mr. Stevenson as seen by us (S.S. 4775, 4777), we thought they 
were such at the time; but I am disposed now to think they were the rough- 
legged species, which has occurred in some numbers. Several have occurred 
at Northrepps before, but not for a long time. I believe the last one was 
many years ago. Capt. Hadfield doubts if this buzzard would prey on any 
ducks except lame ones (S. S. 1058). In October, 1868, an example was 
seen hovering over some tame ducks near Saxmundham, and was shot in 
the act of swooping at one of them. This has been recorded (8. 8. 1513, 
1697). Ihave one other observation to make, which is that Yarrell seems 
in error in remarking that the roughlegged buzzard shows a preference for 
marshy districts (‘ British Birds,’ 1st ed., vol. i., p. 82), but perhaps if any 
one has any evidence in support of this statemeut he will advance it.— 
J. H. Gurney, jun.; Northrepps, near Norwich. 
Buzzards,—Roughlegged buzzards have been unusually abundant this 
autumn and winter in Scotland, especially in the counties of Perth (east 
coast) and Stirlingshire. A few of the common buzzards have also been 
obtained, but the former species has been much the more abundant of the 
two. Mr. James Lumsden, some time ago, at a meeting of the Natural 
History Society of Glasgow,* made mention of most of the specimens ob- 
tained, and Mr. Robert Gray also took notice of them at a meeting of the 
Royal Physical Society in Edinburgh. Since then several more specimens 
have been added to the list—John A. Harvie Brown. 
Common Buzzard.—A common buzzard in my possession was caught in a 
somewhat similar place—if not manner—to that mentioned by Mr. G. F. 
Mathew. A gamekeeper near Wantage, in Berkshire, was going his usual 
rounds one morning (I think in June, 1853, but have not my notes to hand), 
* Natural History Society of Glasgow, Session xxy., 1875-76, third meeting of the 
Session, 26th November, 1875. See the ‘ Glasgow Herald’ of December 4, 1875. 
SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. o 
