AVES—BUZZARD. 459 
returned when I called it to feed After some time, when I judged that I 
could trust to its fidelity, I removed the ligatures; and fastened a small bell, 
an inch and a half in diameter, above its talon, and also attached to its 
breast a bit of copper, having my name engraved on it. I then gave it 
entire liberty, which it soon abused ; for it took wing, and flew as far as the 
forest of Belestne. I gave it up for lost; but four hours afterwards, I saw it 
rush into my hall, pursued by four or five other buzzards, which had con- 
strained it to seek again its asylum. After this adventure, it preserved its 
fidelity to me, coming every night to sleep on my window.” It would also 
sit by and caress him at dinner, and follow him when he was on horseback. 
This bird had a remarkable antipathy to wigs, and particularly to red caps, 
which it never failed to snatch from the wearers, and deposit in a very high 
tree, that served as a store-house for its plunder. It is still more to the 
credit of the buzzard, that it is a most kind and assiduous parent; and Ray 
affirms that, should the female chance to be killed, the male will take charge 
of the young ones, and rear them till they can provide for themselves. The 
eggs of this bird are whitish, spotted with yellow. 
THE MOOR BUZZARD. 

Tus bird is about twenty-one inches in length, with a black bill, and 
yellow cere and eyes. The whole crown of the head is of a yellowish white, 
lightly tinged with brown; the throat is of a light rust color; the rest of the 
plumage is of a reddish brown, with pale edges; the greater wing-coverts 
are tipped with white; the legs are yellow; and claws black. — 
Rabbits, young wild ducks, and other waterfowl, are the prey of this bird, 
which will likewise feed on fish, frogs, reptiles, andeveninsects. Its haunts 
are in hedges and bushes, near pools, marshes, and rivers that abound with 
fish. It builds its nest a little above the surface of the ground, or in hillocks 


1F’, rufus, Lin. 
