Birds. 8441 



more than the same bird in a different stage of plumage. Kjserholling, the Danish 

 naturalist, distinctly says that this Norwegian jer-falcon, which he calls Falco Gyrfalco, 

 is distinct from both the Iceland and Greenland forms. In his description, he says of 

 this Norwegian bird : — " It never becomes white. From the young Iceland and Green- 

 land falcon it differs in its smaller size (in the same sex), by the dark spot on the cheek 

 (as in the peregrine), by its yellow-green legs; and, further, in that the spots on the 

 under part of the body and sides have the form of ' transverse bands.' " — H. Wheel- 

 wright, in l The Field! 



Kite (Falco Milvus) near Leeds. — We have had a specimen of the kite (Falco 

 Milvus) in the woods here for the last eighteen months. I gave orders that it should 

 not be molested, in the hope that it would find a mate, and so breed here ; but though 

 it is still about, it has not yet met with a help meet. — W. Christy Horsfall ; Hors- 

 forth Low Hall, near Leeds, January 2, 1863. 



Common Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris) at Battle. — A fine old female of the common 

 buzzard was trapped upon the Battle Abbey grounds, Sussex, on the 23rd of December 

 last, and sent to me for preservation ; the entire plumage is a dark chocolate-colour. — 

 Robert Kent ; St. Leonards -on- Sea, Sussex, January 8, 1863. 



Roughlegged Buzzard (Falco lagopus) in Cambridgeshire. — The land-steward of 

 General Hall has informed me that his master, while cover-shooting near the Six-mile 

 Bottom Station, was agreeably surprised to flush a truly magnificent specimen of this 

 hawk. Through the kindness of the steward I have been favoured by a sight of this 

 bird, which is nearly in full adult plumage, a dark variety of the species. This bird 

 had been seen and known to frequent the locality (a famous one for its habits, being 

 the best stocked with game of any in the county) for some time previous to its acci- 

 dental capture by the gun of General Hall. Numerous farmers and sporting men in 

 the immediate vicinity had even followed it for a day at a time, but with no success, 

 owing to its being extremely vigilant and wary, never allowing of a near approach. 

 At the time of its unlucky appearance and the deadly aim of General Hall, I have no 

 doubt that its appetite had for once stilled its instinctive warning of approaching 

 danger. The capture was made on the 7th December, 1862. — S. P. Saville; Dover 

 House, Cambridge, January 5, 1863. 



The Roughlegged Buzzard (Falco lagopus) in Yorkshire. — On Friday last, the 16th 

 instant, a fine male specimen of the roughlegged buzzard {Buteo lagopus) was shot in 

 this neighbourhood. It is at present in the hands of Mr. Richard Richardson, bird- 

 stuffer, Beverley, at whose house I saw it in the flesh, and proved its sex by dissection. 

 — W. W. Boullon; Beverley, Yorkshire, January 19, 1863. 



The Roughlegged Buzzard. — The roughlegged buzzard (Falco lagopus, Brunn ; 

 "fjosbent wrak" Sw.), was by far the commonest of all the birds of prey in the 

 Quickiock district during the summer, probably owing to the quantity of lemming 

 which swarmed on these fells. Of all the falcons, I think that this buzzard varies 

 most in the shading of its colouring, and I have remarked that the female is generally 

 lightest, becoming nearly gray-white with age. But if the birds themselves vary, I 

 am sure we may say the same of the eggs, for I have taken them of every shade, from 

 pure white to a dark brown blotched egg. It is almost impossible to distinguish these 

 eggs from dark varieties of the common buzzard's, except that in general the egg of 

 the roughlegged buzzard is a little larger (but I have seen the egg of the common 

 buzzard as large), and it has a rather finer and bolder character, if I may be allowed 

 the term. These buzzards appeared on these fells as spring migrants. The first I 



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