64 RAPTORES. Buzzard. 



near pieces of water, on account of the Libellula2, and other 

 aquatic insects. 

 Nest, &c. It breeds in lofty trees, forming a nest of twigs, hned with 

 wool, and other soft materials. 



The eggs are smaU, in proportion to the size of the bird, 

 of a yellowish white, marked with numerous spots and stains 

 of reddish-brown, sometimes so confluent as to make them 

 appear almost entirely brown. 



It is a native of eastern climes, and, according to Tem- 

 MiNCK, is as rare in Holland as in England. In the south 

 of France it is more abundant, but migratory. 



Plate 8. Figure of the natural size. 

 General Bill bluish-black ; slender, and weak ; bending gradually 

 descrip. from the base to the tip ; with the commissure nearly 



straight. Cere greenish-grey. Irides yellow. The 

 space between the eyes and bill covered with small, 

 round, and closely-set feathers. Crown of the head 

 clove-brown, tinged with bluish-grey. Upper parts um- 

 ber-brown, more or less varied, and edged with clove 

 and yellowish-brown. Throat yellowish-white, with a 

 few brown streaks down the shafts of the feathers. Un- 

 der parts yellowish-white, occasionally tinged with buff- 

 orange; with bars and triangular spots of chesnut-brown. 

 Tail long, umber-brown, with three blackish-brown bars. 

 Feet and tarsi yellow, reticulated, and feathered a little be- 

 low the knee. Claws black, and not much hooked. 



Genus CIRCUS, Bechst. HARRIER. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill bending from the base, weak, much compressed, and 

 forming a narrow rounded culmen ; the tomia of the upper 

 mandible exhibiting a very small festoon or sinuation near 



