In general habits the Buzzard much resembles the 

 Eagles, especially in its common habit of soaring at a 

 great height in fine weather, and in the wilder parts of 

 Scotland this bird is constantly pointed out to tourists 

 as an Eagle. I believe that the Buzzard feeds prin- 

 cipally upon moles, rats, mice, voles, and young 

 rabbits ; no doubt a young or sickly chicken may be 

 occasionally taken by these birds, but on the whole 

 they should in my opinion be strictly preserved and 

 encouraged, as not only very useful but most orna- 

 mental. The cry of the Buzzard is a plaintive wail, and 

 is constantly uttered by the parent birds as they sail 

 over their nests when disturbed. 



This species ranges over the greater part of Europe ; 

 I met with it constantly during the winter on the shores 

 of the Lake of Geneva, where, for some reason of which 

 I could not obtain any satisfactory explanation, it was 

 generally known to the country people under the name 

 of " Bon Oiseau " ; as many of my readers are doubtless 

 aware, the word " bon " is occasionally used to imply 

 simple, or stupid, but in this instance I am disposed to 

 think that the thrifty Swiss recognized the utility of the 

 bird and applied the adjective in its primary sense, 

 though the Buzzard certainly is in a measure compara- 

 tively simple-minded about traps, and in allowing the 

 near approach of human enemies. In captivity the 

 Buzzard becomes perfectly tame, and if well fed may 

 safely be trusted in the company of almost any other 

 birds. 



This species is subject to many variations of plumage ; 

 the subject selected for the Plate is a very remarkably 



