GIBB : ROUGH LEGGED BUZZARD. 



247 



had stationed themselves in his vicinity. In the winter of 1863, a fine 

 specimen was captured near to Fenham Slakes, where it had sojourned no 

 doubt for the purpose of preying on the wild fowl which there abound. 



As in Buteo vulgaris, though to a limited extent, individuals of 

 lagopus differ from each other in their markings, these being more or less 

 pale buff, or brown, and varying greatly in tint. In some examples the 

 brown patch on the middle of the breast is of a uniform dark chocolate 

 extending from either side, and right down to the abdomen and vent. In 

 others it is mixed with russet brown, cream, and white, and altogether a less 

 distinctive and diffused mark. Again, the tail has sometimes two bars on its 

 dark portion, but in most instances is uniform and lighter at the terminal 

 edge, and the basal half which is usually white, is not unfrequently blotched 

 with pale brown. 



Comparatively speaking the habits of the rough legged buzzard are but 

 little known to those who have only observed the bird in Great Britain, and 

 necessarily but few British writers have spoken at any length of its habits, 

 from a close personal observation in this country. From Adubon and "Wilson, 

 however, who have had ample opportunities of observing the bird in America, 

 where it abounds, and is permanently resident, we have fuller descriptions. 

 Nearly all writers agree in designating him a sluggish, cowardly, inactive bird, 

 prone to sit for hours together on a solitary perch waiting for some prey to 

 come within his easy reach, rather than adopt the more dashing mode of 

 capture of most of its congeners. This inactivity and lack of courage of 

 B. lagopus viewed in conjunction, and compared with his robust mechanism, 

 and warlike appearance, is to me an anomaly in nature, and reminds one of 

 certain other bipeds, mustachioed and booted, who, lacking moral courage, are 

 not what they seem to be. Some writers advocate an injustice done to their 

 hero, the buzzard. Mac Gillivray says of him. " that he is accused of being 

 sluggish and inactive, because, when not hungry, they, like true savages, 

 dose away their time, perched on a tree or a stone, and because they do not 

 shew off by giving chase to pigeons, finches, or swallows, preferring more 

 easily captured prey. The birds, in fact, are not fitted for such headlong 

 flights as falcons, and are satisfied with a sufficiency of food, and when they 

 have no curiosity to satisfy, nor any amusement to engage in, they naturally 

 take their rest. Buzzards are generally in good condition, however, which 

 proves that they are industrious ; though neither heroes nor sages, they live 

 quite as comfortably, and enjoy life as much as if, like the goshawk, they were 

 to keep the farm yard in perpetual terror, or like the eagle to soar beyond the 



