﻿NESTS OF THE BUZZARDS. 



177 



(( holes of rocks*/' very often deposit their eggs among 

 the loose and decayed vegetable substances that are gene- 

 rally found within. The buzzards differ materially 

 from the three preceding groups of falcons in their nidi- 

 fication, no less than in their general structure ; for 

 their nest is either placed upon, or very near to the 

 ground. Thus Bewick remarks that the nest of the 

 moor buzzard is placed a little above the surface, or on 

 hillocks covered with thick herbage, while that of the 

 Circus cyaneus is stated to be placed on the ground : 

 the American variety builds indifferently on the ground, 

 or on low bushes. f The common buzzard seems to differ 

 materially from the foregoing, inasmuch as it builds 

 in trees. It may be questioned, however, whether this 

 species really belongs to the Buteonince, for its man- 

 ners, in other respects, are totally different from such 

 falcons as hunt, like swallows, for their prey. As to the 

 nidification of the kites, we can find no account suffi- 

 ciently explicit to be quoted as an authority. Meagre 

 as our materials are, we yet see that, so far as they ap- 

 pear authentic, there is presumptive evidence that each 

 family, or group, even among the falcons, have a pe- 

 culiarity of nidification, which a better acquaintance 

 with other species would substantiate by more numerous 

 examples. The owls are no less peculiar ; whether they 

 deposit their eggs in a tree, or in a building, or upon 

 the ground, a hole is always selected for the purpose ; 

 and the great majority, if not the whole, never appear 

 to construct any nest. We shall subsequently have oc- 

 casion to advert to this fact. 



(152.) The order of Perchers not only comprehends 

 nearly the whole of the remaining arboreal builders, 

 but contains examples of all the other modes of nidifi- 

 cation found in the remaining orders. We shall com- 

 mence with such as build in trees, either singly or in 

 societies, and then proceed to notice such other groups 

 in the order as" deviate more particularly from this 

 typical character of the whole. 



* Bewick. f North. Zool. vol. ii. p. 56. 



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