172 Contributions to the 



birds, but the larger species of the Falconidae, and chiefly the com- 

 mon buzzard, being- in some places called kite and glead, as well gos- 

 hawk or goosehawk, leaves us in uncertainty whether the real 

 Falco milvus was ever indigenous to the country. And for the same 

 reason the doubt is no way removed even by the " authority" of the 

 Irish Statutes, in which rewards are offered for the destruction of the 

 " kite" as one of the birds of prey. Vide' Uth Anne, ch. 7 and 17, 

 Geo. II. ch. 10.* 



Mr R. Langtry, when at Loch Awe, in Argyleshire, early in the 

 summer of 1833, procured from the nest two young kites, which 

 proved a highly interesting addition to his aviary. They at once 

 became very tame and familiar, and were so gentle in disposition as to 

 be most engaging. Every morning they had their liberty, never flew 

 far, but soared to a great height in the air, and, " in still repeated 

 circles," displayed their peculiar and graceful flight. To either lure 

 or " fist" they always returned when called. Mice were preferred by 

 them to birds or any other food. When these kites were on wing 

 rats let off from the cage- trap were expertly caught by them. 



Common Buzzard — Buteo vulgaris, Will. — This species is of 

 common occurrence in Ireland. From the most extensive and best 

 wooded demesnes in Down and Antrim, I have at every season of 

 the year seen specimens. In such localities they build in trees, 

 whence I have heard the young call in Shane's-Castle Park. The 

 buzzard is also found in the retired, rocky, and mountainous parts 

 of the country, where trees are quite unknown, and there forms its 

 nest in the cliffs. 



When at Rosheen mountain (before-mentioned as the eyrie of the 

 Golden (?) Eagle) near Dunfanaghy, in June 1832, we saw a pair 

 of buzzards, and heard their young call from the nest on a ledge of 

 rock, midway down a precipice. This we were told had, until the 

 present season, been for many years occupied by a pair of ravens 

 (Corvus corax,) which it was stated did not yield their possession 

 quietly, but fought hard, though in vain, against the buzzards' usur- 

 pation. My friend being desirous of obtaining the young birds, a 

 man undertook to descend the rock for them in the ordinary way, 

 being secured from falling by a rope fastened about his body, and 

 held by persons above. However, from its impending at the summit, 

 this was rather perilous, and for greater safety he preferred ascending 



* For etxracts from the Statutes, I am indebted to Francis Whitta, Esq. of 

 Belfast. 



