LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD. 119 
access, on March 22nd., and contained three eggs, quite fresh and 
beautifully marked; the last fresh eggs we found were a pair near 
Mount Tabor on May 1st. The eggs are of course larger than, but 
in no way differently coloured from those of the Common Buzzard. 
The nest is large, more neatly made than those of the Eagles, well 
lined with woollen rags and the soft withered leaves of bulrushes 
and flags, and plastered with mud. The plumage of the Palestine 
specimen is very rufous, and we shot breeding birds both with and 
without the bars on their tails." 
I have a long series of eggs of this bird taken by Herr Glitzch, 
and sent to me through Herr Von Heuglin, by whom and the Baron 
Konig-Warthausen they were carefully examined. I mention this 
because when I in future mention the collector's name, it will be 
understood that the above eminent naturalists verified every specimen. 
These eggs vary in size from two inches one line by one inch nine 
lines, to two inches five lines by two inches. They vary in colour 
much. The general ground colour is yellowish white, but some of 
the specimens are pure white, and one which I figure is white 
distinctly and clearly spotted with purple; some of them are like 
large Kite's eggs, but these are exceptional, the majority being more 
or less thickly blotched with brown or rufous. I figure, in addition 
to the one just mentioned, two others which will give a good idea 
of the variations in markings. 
Of this bird's habits in India we have very interesting accounts 
by Mr. Jerdon, in the "Madras Literary and Scientific Journal," 
vol. x., page 76; and by Mr. Hodgson, in the "Bengal Sporting 
Magazine," 1886, page 181, from which I copy the following: — 
Mr. Jerdon says: — "This is certainly a rare bird. I have hitherto 
only seen it near Jaulnah, perched on low trees, or on the ground 
in fields or near water, and taking a low but short flight to another 
similar perch. In the stomach of the specimen I shot there was a 
cricket. Mr. Elliott, who met with this species only in Guzerat, 
says: — 'This bird evidently preys on field-rats which abound in the 
sandy soil of this province. He is seen sitting on low trees, or 
bushes over the rat-burrows, and, watching his opportunity, darts 
down on his victim. In the stomach of one were the exuviae of a 
rat, and a large beetle.' " 
Mr. Hodgson writes: — "These birds are very common in the 
central and northern hilly regions of Nepal, but I never procured 
one from below. It adheres to the woods when the crops are up, 
but after harvest comes into the open country, and is seen perpe- 
tually perched on a clod and looking out for snakes, which constitute 
