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The Putfock or common Buzzard. Buteo. 



IT is of the BIgnefs of a young Tullet : Its Weight is 3 3 Ounces, Length from the 

 tip of the Beak to the end of the Tail 22 Inches : Its Breadth when the "Wings are 

 extended 49 Inches and a half; the Head large, the Crown broad and flat, the Beak 

 of a middle Size, hooked, and of a dark blue, a yellow Skin covers the upper Chap from 

 the Root beyond the Noftrils ; the corners of the Mouth are alfo of a yellow Colour : 

 Its Tongue is thick, flefliy and blunt, as in the reft of the Hawk Kind : The Roof of the 

 Mouth hath in it a hollow equal to the Tongue. The Angle of the lower Chap is cir- 

 cular, the Eyes are large, the Iridis of the Eye whitifh, with a fmall {hade of yel- 

 low, and fometimes a (hade of red; the lower Eye-lid downy, the Membrane for 

 Nidation blue. 



The Colour of the upper Part of the Head, Back, Wings, and Tail are of a dark- 

 brown approaching to black, with feveral light Spots on the Back and Top of the Head ; 

 fome of the Feathers of the Wings and Breaft are edged with a faint, dirty, yellowifh 

 white : The Chin, Breaft and Belly was of a pale ferrugineous Colour, with feveral 

 dark-brown Spots ; between the Eyes and Noftrils grow long, black and white Briftles, the 

 middle of the Back is covered with Down, the fcapular Feathers covering the whole Back. 



The flag Feathers in each Wing are about ?4 in Number, the outmoft of which is 

 ftiorteft, the 3d and 4th (counting from it) longcft, the Tips of the 4 outmoft are blacker 

 and narrower than ihofe of the reft; the interior Webs of all are variegated with broad, 

 tranfverfe, duiky and whitifh Streaks, or Bars, after the manner of thofe of the Wood- 

 cock; the under Side of the Wings, excepting the Tips of the Flags, and third Part 

 of the 5 outmoft Feathers, is white, varied with tranfverfe parallel Lines ; the Wing* 

 clofed, reach almoft to the end of the Train; the Train is 9 or 10 Inches long, made up 

 of twelve Feathers, when fpread, terminating in a circular Circumference; the outmoft 

 Tips of its Feathers are of an Afti-colour, then follows a tranfverfe black Line of an Inch 

 in breadth, the remaining Part being variegated, black and cinereous, tranfverfe Spaces of 

 Bars, only the Bottoms of the Feathers white. 



The Thighs are long, ftrong and fleftiy, and feathered a little below the Knees ; the 

 Legs^fhort, thick and ftrong, cover 'd with yellow Scales, as are alfo the Feet: The out Toe 

 joins below to the middlemoft by a Membrane, the Talons are ftrong, long and black, that 

 of the outmoft fore Toe the leaft, that of the back Toe the biggeft. 



The Liver is divided into 2 Lobes, having a large Gall ; the Spleen is of an oval Figure ; 

 the Stomach large, not mufculous, but membranous, that is, not fleftiy, like the Gizzard 

 of a Hen, or Turkey, &c. but fliinny like thofe of Bcafts. 



It feeds not only on Mice, Moles and Birds, bur for want of better Food, on Beetles, 

 Worms and other Infeds. I open'd the Stomach of one fent me by Sir Robert Abdy, and 

 found in it a Frog, a Toad, a large Field-nioufe, and feveral Worms and Beetles ; they arc 

 alfo great Deftroyers of Rabbits and young Hares. 



The Heads of thefe Birds are faid to grow cinereous with Age, and the Feathers of 

 the Back white ; but whether it comes to pafs by reafon of Age or Sex, or other Acci- 

 dent, it is not determin'd ; but they differ much in the Colour of their Plumage, fome 

 having more white, others not any. 



Buzzards Eggs are white, ftain'd with a few great redd ifti Spots, and fometimes all white, 



Pliny and Aldrovandus mention this Bird to have 3 Tefticlcs, but our modern Authors 

 have found but 2 with all their diligent Search. 



B The 



