THE BUZZARDS OF THE DOONE COUNTRY 35 



rabbit skin — which had fallen overboard ; I have also seen magpies thus 

 searching for scraps of food under a Heron's nest. 



Later visits to the nest showed that the already overflowing larder had 

 been still further replenished with suppUes of young rabbits, together with a 

 few castings composed entirely of rabbit's fur ; whilst the ground below was 

 dotted with httle patches of rabbit fur, showing where the Buzzards had 

 plucked their victims. 



So it would seem that the Buzzard, incapable of taking an assortment 

 of food for his family, makes up for the shortcoming by procuring an abundant 

 supply of the one item whose capture causes him the least inconvenience. 



A characteristic which it is hoped will not be regarded too seriously. 



