FALCO BUTEO 
COMMON BUZZARD. 
Generic Character. See Falco Chryscetos, 
Palco Butjso, Lin, Syst, I. p. 127. Ind. Orn.p.23, 
Buzzard, ^r. 0ooZ. 1 . 54. tab. 25. Ih.fol tab, A, Jig. 3, 
Lath. Si/n. 1. p. 48. lb. Suppl. p. 14. 
Mont. Orn. Diet. Bewick's Br. Birds^ 
Pt. 1. p. 57. 
rp 
. I HIS common bird is about twenty-two inches in 
length, in breadth somewhat exceeding four feet, weighing 
from two pounds and a half to three and a half. Bill strong 
and hooked, with a notch or tooth in the upper mandible 
near the point ; eyes sunken, and much duller than in most 
other species of hawk ; wings when closed extending rather 
bejond the tail ; legs strong and coarse ; feathers on the 
thighs long and loose, and of a harsher texture than on the 
other parts of the bird. The colours of both sexes are 
subject to vary, those of the female are mostly duller; in 
size it is rather larger, and a much bolder bird than the 
piale. 
Of our native hawks this is the most indolent and inactive, 
rarely taking wing exeept when pressed by hunger, or in 
the breeding season, when it soars to a great height, as- 
cending 
