THE BUZZARDS OF THE DOONE COUNTRY 33 



then swung out of the tree, and disappeared once again in the direction of the 

 moors. 



Two days later it was decided that photography should be attempted, 

 and in due course the actual camera was substituted for the bimch of ferns, a 

 string was run through a series of screw eyes to the foot of the camera tree, 

 and thence to the operator's hiding-place, and the dark-sUde withdrawn in 

 readiness for an exposure. 



Meanwhile both of the old Buzzards were soaring overhead, and, of course, 

 watching all the arrangements. 



This was a difficult piece of country in which to outwit the keen-eyed 

 Buzzard, for since there was no cover he could see from his position on high 

 all that was going on below, and incidentally any one who entered the hiding- 

 place. 



After a considerable wait, however, the female Buzzard returned to the 

 nest, and distributed some portions of rabbit among the family. Then for a 

 time she sat at the side of the nest, resting and preening her feathers. Presently 

 she walked to the opposite side of the nest, picked up a small rabbit, and 

 after some slight hesitation, flew off with it. In about fifteen minutes she 

 returned without the rabbit, and continued to rest and preen as before. 



About two hours later the male — bearing another small rabbit — joined 

 her. On this occasion the yoimg Buzzards did not seem to be in the least 

 degree hungry — ^the first young hawks in" the wild state I have ever seen that 

 were not ready for food. 



Before leaving that evening, I climbed up to the nest and purloined some 

 half-dozen of the newly-gathered young rabbits. They are, in the fried state, 

 excellent for breakfast. 



I noticed, whilst at the nest, that the Buzzards had been decorating it 

 with some fresh leafy twigs from one of the beech trees. 



Whilst at the nest on our next visit, we remarked that the Buzzards were 

 less timid than on previous occasions ; they both soared at a much lower 

 elevation, the female ultimately settling on a small beech tree growing from 

 one of the beech hedges so conmion in the district. 



This apparently insignificant incident led to a most interesting exhibition 

 — ^which at least proved that the Buzzard, although a slow flier, is capable of 

 performing some remarkable evolutions in the air. 



It so happened that in the beech hedge was a Carrion Crow's nest, con- 

 taining almost fuUy grown young ones — and the parent crows, noting the 

 proximity of the great bird of prey, evidently decided that drastic action must 

 be taken, for the Crow, like his cousin the Rook, heartily abhors the Buzzard 

 and his tribe. 



Soon both of the crows were in the air, circhng and half-hovering over 

 their enemy's head. Then one of them, with wings thrown back, would put 



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