MU. J. II. GURNliV ON A FEMALE PERNIS APIYORUS. 249 
XIV. 
NOTES ON A FEMALE SPECIMEN OF 
PERNIS APIVORUS. 
Ly J. II. Gurney, F.Z.S. 
Read ^oth March, 1886. 
Amongst the Eaptonal Birds occurring in the British Lslands, 
110 species is more interesting as regards tlie variations of marking 
and colour incident to its changes of plumage than the Honey 
Buzzard (Pernie apivorutt), and any facts hearing on these changes 
arc, I think, worthy of record. 
With this view I have made some notes relating to a Honey 
Buzzard which I kept alive for nearly four years and a half, 
and tliese I propose to lay before the Society in the present paper. 
I ought, however, to mention that the earlier observations which I 
made have already appeared in print in the Appendix J of my 
‘ Catalogue of the Diurnal Birds of Prey,’ but I recapitulate them 
on the pre.sent occasion in order that the entire sequence of changes 
up to the time of the bird’s death may be placed on rccon.1. 
The Honey Buzzard is an occasional visitor to various parts of 
England, generally appearing in the early autumn, and usually in 
immature plumage. Tliese migrations are for the most part those of 
isolated individuals, but in some years a very considerable number 
of these birds appear at about the same time, and on such 
occasions they occur with especial frequency in the Eastern 
Counties. 
The last time when Norfolk and many adjacent counties was so 
visited by this species, was in the latter part of September and the 
early days of October, 1881 . 
