FALCOXID^. 157 



Newton Abbot (W. R. IT. J., Trans. Devon. Assoc. 1S74. p. TOD). Kites are said to 

 linve been seen in December L'^'^D at >>^e\vtou Abbot, and near Cliagford in Mav 1890 

 (R. yL J. Teil, ' Field.' Dec. lltb, 18s0, and May 24th. ISUlJ). 



A female was shot on Haldon, near Exeter, about 18()4, and liavins; been fir.-it in 

 Mr. Bvne's collection, passed into the hands uf tlie late Mr. Marsh-Dunn, of 

 Teigninouth. 



An adult was trapped bv one of the keepers of ^fr. Halliday. of Glentliorne, at 

 Countesburv. near Lvnton, >'. Devon, May iSil (M. A. M.. Zuol. 18(il, p. 7544). A 

 very fine old male, sliot at West Down, near Ilfi-aeombe, in October 1885, is in oiu'own 

 collection (M. A. M.). 



Honey-Buzzard. Femis cqnvorus (Linn.). 



A casual visitor, of very rare occurrence, during the summer months. 



This .singular bird is very rai'e indeed in Devonshire, ^^erhaps because 

 the beech, irs favourite tree, is comparatively scarce in our parks and 

 ■woodlands. It is, moreover, extremely local, there being a few places in 

 the kingdom, some vrell known, and others "whose secret is properly 

 guarded, in which it appears with some regularity. We never saw one 

 in Xorth Devon, nor have we ever handled a Devonshire specimen, whereas 

 in a very limited district near Taunton, on the Quantock Hills, four 

 examples came within our experience. Two of these were obtained in 

 Cothclstone Park, another was trapped on the adjoining property of Bag- 

 borough, and we ourselves saw the companion bird of one of these victims 

 "when we were taking a walk on Cothclstone Hill. 



Two immigrations of the Honey Euzzard visit this country each year — 

 one in the spring, of old birds anxious to find nesting-quarters, and too 

 generally doomed to slaughter, and another, and this chiefly on the Eastern 

 coast, of young birds of the year, in the autumn. 



The Honey-Buzzard obtains its name from its partiality to the grubs of 

 bees and wasps, to procure which it eagerly seeks for the nests of those 

 insects, and many have been lured to destruction l)y traps baited with 

 honey -comb. It also feeds on birds' eggs, young rabbits, small ])irds, etc., 

 but its feelile feet and small talons indicate that it cannot be formidable 

 to game. In its plumage it varies more than any other species of Buzzard, 

 and passes through numerous stages between the daik cliocohite-brown of 

 the young birds of the year, and the full adult plumage, which, in the male, is 

 marked by a grey caj) and pure white undcr|)arts, in which dress our friend 

 !Mr. W. Brodrick Ix'lieved it liad never been met with in the British Isles. 

 The Honey-Buzzard nests commonly l)efore it attains its full jjluniage ; a 

 ])air in our collection, which, we grieve to say, were shot off their nest in 

 the New Forest, are still in an immature stage. 



A Honey-Buzzard is believed to have been seen hawliinf; for dragon (lies, and sliimminT 

 over the water, at Slapfon Ley, by Hev. Mr. Iloldswoilh s:)iiic y(ars bi-fore |S|;i i.Mon- 

 t«|i|u"B Orn. Diet., Su))pl.) ; and Jieilainy says that it has ln'cn taken in that loc.ililv (N. 

 Hist. S. Devon, p. I'.l'.t). One shot n-ai- Woodieif,di, about \x;\{) or 1810, passed" first 

 into the hands of tlie Rev. Edwin d Luseonibe. and afterwards into tiio eollection of 

 the late Mr. .1. Elliot (II. N. und E. A. S. E., M.S. Notes). One was trn|)ped on 

 Dartmoor in 181H, unrl a very fine male bird wa»cjni;;ht in a ({in in July iS.'iOon Lord 

 Morley's property, near I'lymoulh (R. A. J., ' Naturalist,' Ibbl, p. Mj.' This lust bird 



