212 
HONEY BUZZARD. 
part of the plumage is white, and a thick clothing 
of down closely invests the whole of the body. 
The tail hair brown, with bars of a deeper 
colour. The skin I found to be tough and 
thick. Upon opening the body, the craw and 
stomach were found filled with wasps, as well 
full grown as in the nymph and grub state ; no 
remains or feathers of birds, or bones and fur of 
mammalia, were to be seen, so that, at this season 
at least, its food would appear to consist entirely 
of insects, and particularly the Hymenoptera and 
their larva?. The neck and gently curved bill, 
as well as the straight claws of this bird, shew its 
departure from the typical Falconidee, and its 
decreased predatorial habits. It was in tolerable 
condition, though not in the fat state of the 
individual killed at Thrunton, and described by 
the honourable Mr Liddell in the Transactions 
of the Northumberland Natural History Society. 
While alive, it shewed no irascibility of disposi- 
tion, and did not attempt to strike with its 
talons, and made no outcry. It was infested 
with that unpleasant looking parasite, Hippomya 
viridis, several specimens of which were secured.” 
In the species before alluded to as being killed 
near Belfast, “ The bill and forehead were 
covered with cow dung in such a manner as to 
lead them to suppose the bird had in that sub- 
stance been scratching for insects. On examina- 
