84 FALCONID.E. 



with regard to the summer retreat of the Honey Buzzard ; 

 but as it is known that this species seeks, as food for its 

 young, the bee and the wasp in their immature state, it is 

 natural to suppose that at the season of reproduction it would 

 seek the countries most likely to afford this necessary susten- 

 ance. These countries lay in the eastern parts of Europe, 

 such as Turkey, Hungary, and the south of Russia, which are 

 known as the most productive of honey ; also the borders of 

 the Levant. In confirmation of this supposition that these 

 eastern parts are most frequented during summer by this bird, 

 it may be remarked that many are seen during their autumnal 

 migration pursuing their course from the east in a westerly 

 direction. In England it is but rarely seen, and must be 

 ranked among occasional or accidental migrants. It is chiefly 

 confined to the eastern coast of Britain : some few instances 

 are also recorded of its occurrence in the southern counties ; 

 and as it has generally been spoken of in connexion with sum- 

 mer insects, such as dragon-flies, the larvse of wasps, &c, as 

 constituting its food, it is to be supposed that its appearance in 

 this country is confined to the summer months, and that it 

 passes the winter further to the south. White of Selbourne 

 speaks of having taken an egg of this species from a nest 

 in Selbourne Hanger in the middle of June : September and 

 October are mentioned by Mr. Selby as the period when two 

 specimens occurred in Northumberland and in Berwickshire ; 

 but later than October we do not find any mention of its 

 appearance in this country. According to Temminck, it is 

 very rarely met with in Holland ; it is more abundant in 

 France, especially in the department of Vosges : but he speaks 

 of it in all as a bird of passage. 



The Honey Buzzard is observed to frequent the skirts of 

 woods or forests bordering upon open country, usually in the 

 vicinity of water, to which it is attracted by^its partiality for 

 aquatic insects and reptiles. It is occasionally seen flying 



