52 



The Naturalist. 



circles. Presently the buzzard's mate appears on the scene, and, as if 

 cheered, the pursued one makes a powerful stoop, and the pursuers, just 

 escaping, realise the fact that "discretion is the better part of valour," 

 and hurry away, leaving the buzzard master of the field, or rather the 

 space. 



This reminds me of the pair of buzzards mentioned by Thompson 

 (Nat. Hist. Ireland ; Birds, I, p. 73.) which usurped a raven's nest, 

 the latter birds fought hard, but in vain, the buzzards conquered and 

 reared their young. Both incidents show that the buzzard is pos- 

 sessed of considerable courage, the raven being an enemy not to be 

 despised. 



May 15th : After searching for sandpiper's eggs on the lake side, 

 we ascend a bold crag which overhangs its surface and which is some 

 300ft. high. This is a favourite haunt of the buzzard, and after a short 

 search we succeed in putting the old bird from her nest ; she does 

 not make off as before, but perches on a mountain ash just above the 

 nest. Having procured the rope and appearing again above the nest, 

 the old bird leaves, uttering a loud and plaintive cry which has some- 

 thing remarkably cat-like about it ; this she continues to do, flying 

 backwards and forwards over the lake, until she is joined by her 

 mate who appears mysteriously from far above, and then both sail 

 quietly away. My friend is lowered to the nest which is in the face 

 of the crag, about 40ft. from the top, and placed in a little cave in the 

 rock, with a slender mountain ash springing immediately from its 

 front. The nest is similar to those already visited by us in construc- 

 tion, and again contains two eggs, one of which is a very beautiful 

 specimen, being dashed with neutral tint besides the usual reddish- 

 brown markings. 



During my visits to Wales I often observed the buzzard hunting, 

 and sometimes hanging as it were almost motionless over the fell 

 sides. I am sorry to say that during the thirteen months that elapsed 

 between my first and second visits the keeper had shot and trapped 

 no less than fourteen birds ; one of these I imagine from his descrip- 

 tion to have been a rough-legged buzzard, which, so far as our county 

 is concerned, is the commoner bird of the two, although only occupying 

 the position of an autumn visitor on the British list. A young 

 common buzzard obtained in Wales was useful in the garden, and 

 would follow anyone digging, for the sake of the worms. 



In conclusion, I would remark that, taking into consideration the 

 habits, build, flight, &c., of the buzzard, which seem to be so much 

 akin to the eagle, and also the fact that the rough -legged buzzard 



