BIRDS OF PREY. 



S3 



The Mouse Buzzards are met with throughout a large part of Europe and Central Asia, 

 appearing in the southern portions of our continent during the winter, and living solitarily in the 

 vicinity of lofty mountains during the summer months. They are rarely seen in Northern Africa, or 

 in the lower parts of India, but are common in certain districts of the Himalayas. In some of the 

 warm countries of Europe they remain throughout the entire year ; in such as are more northern, 

 they arrive about March or April, and leave again in September. When about to migrate, these birds 

 congregate in parties of from twenty to a hundred, and as the flocks usually proceed in the same 

 course when quitting us, without actually assembling in large hosts, they often fly so as to spread their 



THE COMMON OR MOUSE BUZZARD {BllliO vulgaris). 



numbers over a square mile of country. At such times their flight is slow, and varied by the perform- 

 ance of many elegant evolutions, sweeping about in circles for half-an-hour at a time ; and, as they 

 return northwards, they often linger for whole days upon spots likely to afford them a plentiful supply 

 of food. When about to settle, they generally select such localities as are well covered with trees, 

 and in the vicinity of fields or pasture lands, these situations being rich in such game as they prefer ; 

 they are, however, found in large forests, and sometimes ascend to a great height in mountain ranges. 



The movements of this Buzzard are characterised by a slowness and clumsiness that render 

 it almost unmistakable, either as it soars slowly aloft, or sits, with body huddled together and ruffled 

 plumage, upon the branch of a tree, from whence it watches with keen eyes, for the appearance of its 

 prey. During the breeding season and early spring, however, these birds exhibit an activity for which 

 we are quite unprepared, and soar to prodigious heights, displaying their skill in a variety of aerial 



