256 



HONEY BUZZARD. 



This is a migrative species, at least it has never been observed with 

 us in winter, but arrives in April, and after performing the offices of 

 incubation, and rearing- its young-, leaves us again for the warmer lati- 

 tudes, in the latter end of October, about the time the merlin arrives 

 in the southern parts. It builds its nest in trees, and sometimes takes 

 possession of a deserted crow's nest : the number of its eggs is usually 

 four, of a bluish white, with olive-green or yellowish-brown blotches. 

 We have seen three young ones taken from a nest, which were not of 

 so dark a colour as the old birds. 



Small as this species of falcon is, it is inferior to none in point of 

 courage, while its flight is wonderfully rapid, and supported with undi- 

 minished vigour for a considerable time; it will frequently pounce upon 

 a partridge ; but its favorite game seems to be the lark, to which it is 

 a great enemy ; and it is frequently taken in pursuit of them by bird- 

 catchers, in their nets. 



We have frequently witnessed its flight in pursuit of this bird, 

 and it is astonishing to observe how dexterously the little creature 

 avoids the fatal stroke until it becomes fatigued. A Hobby in pur- 

 suit of a lark was joined by a hen-harrier, who not being so rapid on 

 wing, was usually behind, and ready to avail himself of the sudden 

 turns the unfortunate lark was compelled to make, to avoid the talons 

 of the Hobby; however, after numberless evolutions, the hen-harrier 

 relinquished, being unequal to the chace, and left the deadly stroke to 

 one better adapted for rapid and durable flight, and aerial evolutions. 

 The country was open, and as far as the eye could discern the chace 

 continued, but doubtless without a chance of the lark's avoiding the 

 fatal blow.* 



* A male Hobby perceiving a goldfinch in a cage, within a window 

 which happened to be open, dashed at the imprisoned bird, notwith- 

 standing several persons were in the room ; but being alarmed at the 

 natural vociferations of some young ladies for the safety of their dar- 

 ling, the intruder mistook the passage by which he entered, and flew 

 against the glass, when his retreat was cut off, and he was secured. 



This species was formerly trained for hawking, but more commonly 

 used for taking partridges and larks with a net, which was termed 

 daring, that is, the Hobby was cast off", which so frightened the birds, 

 that they readily suffered a net to be drawn over them. 



HOLM SCREECH.— A name for the Missel Thrush. 



HONEY BUZZARD (Pernis apivorus, Cuvier.) 



Talco apivorus, Linn. Syst. 1. sp. 130. — Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 267. sp. 28. — Lath. Ind. 

 Orn. 1.25. 52.— Briss. 1. p. 410.— Ib. 8vo. p. 117.— Rati, Syn. 16. 2.— Muller, 



