“The Cominou Buzzard frequents the more cultivated plains and woodlands in England, and the very 
wildest parts of Scotland. In the former it is decidedly a bird of sylvan habits, delighting in the more ex- 
tensive chases and parks where there is abundance of aged timber, or in the tracts which still bear the name 
of forests — in the latter, frequenting the alpine districts, and breeding on the edges of the ravines with which 
they are so abundantly intersected. In either case, the nest is built of large sticks, with a scanty lining of 
wool or hair, the site an aged tree or some ledge of rock; the eggs, three or four in number, of a rounded 
form, bluish or greenish white, with pale brown blotches and spots or streaks most crowded at the thicker 
end. In its habits it is sluggish and inactive, or rather it appears to be so ; the flight is heavy, but buoyant, 
and when hunting it is performed in low sweeps, during which it surveys the ground and pounces on any 
living thing which may attract its attention. It never attempts to secure its prey by pursuit on the wing. 
Its food consists of almost everything — the smaller Mammalia, such as mice or moles, the young of game or 
moorland birds, frogs, toads, &c. It has been often described as watching from an eminence or decayed 
tree, thence sweeping down on the prey when discovered, and for this purpose remaining for hours in one 
situation ; we have never seen it so employed, and have always considered its long stationary perches as the 
result of repletion, and as a resting-place after the exertion of hunting and feeding ; and we have known the 
same station taken up day after day, and hours spent in a motionless doze. On quitting this ])erch, and 
during the season of incubation, the flight is slow and majestic — the bird rising in easy and graceful gyra- 
tions, often to an immense height, and uttering occasionally its shrill and melancholy whistle. At this time, 
to a spectator beneath, and in particular lights, they appear of immense size; the motions of the tail, when 
directing the circles, may he plainly perceived, as well as the beautiful markings on it and on the wings, 
which are sometimes rendered very distinct by the body being thrown upwards, and the light fallino- on the 
clear and silvery tints of the base of the feathers. The Buzzard is a fine accompaniment to the landscape, 
whether sylvan or wild and rocky. In confinement it becomes very familiar, is easily tamed, and as easily 
kept.” 
Mr. Tliompson states, in his ‘ Natural History of Ireland,’ that the Buzzard “ is generally to be found in 
suitable localities. Specimens are procured at all seasons of the year in the more extensive and best-wooded 
demesnes in Down and Antrim. In such haunts the Buzzard builds in trees ; but in the retired and moun- 
tainous parts of the country, where not a tree is to be found, it is equally at home, and forms its nest 
in the cliffs.” The bird had also come under his notice “ at Rosheen Mountain, near Dunfanao-hy, 
at IVIagllllgan in Londonderry, at the headlands above the Giant’s Causeway and those near Carrick-a-rede 
in Antrim, in the cliffs at the Knockagh Mountain near Carrickfergus, and other places.” 
“ During incubation,” says Mr. Macgillivray, “ the male brings food to the female, and sometimes takes 
her place on the eggs. The young are at first covered with whitish down, and, after leaving the nest, 
are assisted by their parents until able to shift for themselves. Mr. Hepburn informs me that it hunts 
the fields in a wavering direction, often turning and twisting, about a dozen or sixteen feet from the 
ground, dropping down on the unsuspecting mouse, and seizing the unwary bird perched on the hedge. 
So far as I have seen, it does not come near the dwellings of man in search of its food. Besides 
devouring mice, the Buzzard is of great service to the farmer in driving off the Ring-Doves from the corn. 
Here you may see them feeding in flocks, often comprising as many as 500, and sometimes above 1000. 
He is accused of killing game, and suffers accordingly ; but the gleanings are not left to maintain game 
alone, being shared by mice and small birds, and yet the poor Buzzard is shot when endeavouring to fulfil 
one of the great ends for which he was created, namely, setting bounds to their increase. When will our 
senators see the error of game-laws, and the moral evils they inflict upon the lower orders ? Not till then 
will the farmer and nurseryman experience the full benefit of our Rapacious birds.” 
Independently of Central Europe, over the whole of which it is dispersed, it is nowhere more numerous 
than in Africa : Captain Loche states that it is found in all parts of Algeria ; Dr. Riippell saw it every- 
where in the north-eastern parts; Dr. Heuglin mentions that it is occasionally seen in Egypt during 
winter ; and the Rev. William Scott brought examples from Madeira, whither he states they frequently fly 
over from Africa. In India Mr. Jerdon shot the specimen he describes in his work on the birds of that 
country, and saw several others on the Neilgherries, and remarks that it lias also been found in Nepaul 
and Sikim ; but it appears to be a rare inhabitant of the hilly regions of India. 
Richardson and Swalnson state, in the ‘ Fauna Boreali-Americana,’ that this bird also inhabits the fur- 
countries of America : but the example they have figured must have reference to some other species ; for I 
have no reason to believe that it is ever found in America, and it is not included in Dr. Baird’s recently 
published list of the birds of that country. 
The figure is about two-thirds of the natural size. 
