ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD. 33 







It is rather extraordinary, considering the numerous occasions 

 on which it has occurred in this county, in Lincolnshire and in 

 Norfolk, that Mr. Hancock in his catalogue of the birds of 

 Northumberland and Durham has only three captures of this 

 species to record for both counties. 



Unlikely as it may appear, it nevertheless seems to be an 

 accepted fact that this species bred in former years at Hackness 

 near Scarborough. I'he following account, taken from Mr. A. G. 

 More's useful paper on the distribution of birds in Great Britain 

 during the nesting season, which appeared in the Ibis for 1865, 

 includes all the particulars obtainable relating to this most 

 interesting occurrence : — 



"A single pair bred for several years in succession at Hackness, 

 where they appeared as summer visitors. 



"Mr. Alwin S. Bell of Scarborough has kindly furnished the 

 following particulars : — Mr. John Smith, who was gamekeeper for 

 twenty years on the estate of Sir J. V. B. Johnstone, remembers 

 the Rough-legged Buzzard perfectly well. There was no mistake as 

 to the species, as they were feathered right down to the toe ends. 

 They used to breed, year after year, on the ground amongst the 

 heather, in the moor-dells near Ash Hay Gill, Whisperdale, about 

 three miles from Hackness. One pair only bred every year 

 during most of the time that Mr. Smith was keeper, twenty-four 

 years ago. They were not seen except in the breeding season. 

 Mr. Smith has himself shot them from the nest, and remembers 

 that they sometimes had young. 



"Mr. Williamson, the curator of the museum at Scarborough, 

 confirms this statement, and remembers a male Rough-legged 

 Buzzard being trapped by the keeper and brought alive to 

 Scarborough. This bird escaped, but soon afterwards its mate was 

 shot; and in the following spring the same male returned, with 

 another partner, when both were taken, and on the male was 

 found distinctly the marks inflicted by the trap." 



Wishing to ascertain whether the bird had been known to 

 breed in this locality since the time spoken of by Mr. Williamson, 

 I communicated with his successor in the curatorship of the 



B 3 



