ORDER ACCIPITRES. 247 



some elevated tree, and composes it of small branches, and 

 lines it within with wool, or other soft materials. It often takes 

 possession of the nest of a crow, which it enlarges. The female 

 lays two or three whitish eggs, with yellow spots. It nurses 

 the young for a longer time than the other accipitres. Accord- 

 ing to Ray, if the mother be killed, the male will continue 

 his attentions until the young ones can dispense with them. 

 When the latter have first taken their flight, they are heard 

 perpetually to send forth sharp and plaintive cries. 



We shall now speak of the Honey Buzzard. Though said 

 to have been very common in France in the time of Belon, it 

 is now rare enough in the different countries of Europe. It is 

 usually found in plains on the trees and bushes : its flight is 

 low and of short duration. It is said, without the assistance of 

 its wings, to be able to run as fast as a cock. Its principal 

 food consists of lizards and field mice, frogs, and insects. Its 

 nest, composed of interlaced twigs, is closely covered within, 

 with wood or other analogous materials. It usually lays but 

 two eggs, which, according to Buffon, are ash-coloured, and 

 marked with small brown spots. In Lewin's figure they are 

 of a rust colour, with deeper spots of the same hue. It feeds 

 its young with the chrysalides of insects, and especially those 

 of wasps, from which it derives its specific appellation. This 

 bird is very fat in winter, and good for eating, on which 

 account snares are set for it. 



There are a great number of other species described by 

 naturalists as appertaining to this group. But not to mention 

 that many of them do not appear to be well authenticated, 

 there is nothing in the habits of any of them very different 

 from what we have already detailed, or at all likely to amuse 

 or instruct the reader. We shall, therefore, now proceed to 

 that singular genus, 



The Secretary. The single species which comprises this 

 genus, is ranged by Gmelin in his falco, and by Latham, in 

 his synopsis, among the vultures. Illiger isolated it under the 



