236 HONEY BUZZARD. Class II. 



posed to be a female, being shot on the nest : it 

 was entirely of a deep brown color, but had 

 much the same marks on the wing's and tail as 

 the male ; and the head was, tinged with ash 

 E&gs. color. There were two eggs in the nest, 

 blotched over with two shades of red something 

 darker than those of the kestrel ; though Mr. 

 Willughby says they are of a different color : 

 that naturalist informs us, that this bird builds 

 its nest with small twigs, which it covers with 

 wool ; that its eggs are cinereous, marked with 

 darker spots : as he found the combs of wasps 

 in the nest, he gave this species the name of the 

 honey-buzzard : he adds, that it feeds on the 

 eruccB of those insects, on frogs, lizards, <^c. 

 and that it runs very swiftly like a hen. 



" This, in respect of England, must be con- 

 sidered as a rare species, and like the common 

 buzzard varies much in jts plumage, as well as 

 in the color of its eggs. It is, we believe, more 

 frequent on the continent, and is found in Russia 

 as well as in Sibiria, in wooded districts, where 

 lizards are plentiful, but is by no means com- 

 mon any where." J. L. 



