in this county in September 1861. On seeing the 

 wasps unusually busy one morning about 8 o'clock, I 

 went near the nest to ascertain the cause. The whole 

 of the combs were scratched out, and there was a hole 

 nearly the size of a bee-hive. On seeing the tail of a 

 bird, I put my arm in and drew out what proved to be 

 a very fine specimen of the Honey-Buzzard. I sent 

 the bird for preservation ; but after about ten years it 

 crumbled to pieces. To prove the date, I enclose receipt 

 for stuffing. — Thomas Gulliver, Crown Woodman." 



On one occasion in September 1856 I witnessed a 

 passage of great numbers of this species from Spain to 

 Africa. Our vessel was becalmed off Europa Point, and 

 from about noon till dusk the Honey-Buzzards kept 

 passing over and on both sides of us in flocks of from 

 half a dozen to eighty or more, at intervals of a few 

 minutes, at no very great height above the water, 

 although for the most part out of gunshot from our 

 ship. Colonel Irby states that the vernal passage of 

 this species to the northward, as observed by him at 

 Gibraltar, generally occurs during the last days of 

 April and first fortnight of May, and extends over some 

 twenty days. 



