48 THE BUZZARD. 
Neither the kite nor the buzzard were ever trained for 
hawking, being deficient both in speed and pluck. 
The former, however, was occasionally “flown at” by 
falconers, although oftener for want of a better bird, than 
because he showed much sport. 
Both are now far less common than in Shakespeare’s 
day. The increased number of shooters, and the war of 
extermination which is carried on by gamekeepers, 
inevitably seal their doom. 
