THE BUZZARD-EAGLES. 
155 
Range in Great Britain. — An autumn visitor, occurriiig in some 
years, as in 189 1, in great numbers. Tt maybe considered 
almost a regular visitor to Scotland, and some specimens are 
obtained in the eastern counties nearly every autumn, but it is 
not often found in the south or west of England, and only 
about half a dozen instances of its capture in Ireland have 
been recorded. The species has even been said to breed in 
Great Britain, but the evidence is by no means satisfactory, and 
more exact confirmation of the fact is essential. 
Range outside the British Islands. — The Rough-legged Buzzard- 
Eagle is distinctly a northern bird, being commonly distributed 
from Scandinavia into the valley of the Lena in Siberia. It 
breeds in Russia, as far south as 56° N. lat., and also in the 
Baltic Provinces, but in more southern latitudes it is only 
known as a winter visitor, occurring at this season of the year 
in the Pyrenees, in Italy, and the Mediterranean countries. 
In North America it is represented by a closely allied species, 
Archibuteo sancti johannis. 
Hahits. — Very little has been recorded of the habits of this 
species, but it is said to be a frequenter of the open country, 
rather than of wooded districts like a Buzzard, and in many 
of its habits it is more of an Aquila than a Butco. It has a 
peculiar “ mewing ” cry, like that of a cat. Its food consists 
of rabbits and other small Mammalia, but it also eats reptiles 
and captures water-fowl. Its flight is said by Professor Newton 
to be slow, but smooth, and, except during its migrations, is 
seldom continued for any great length of time. 
Hest.— Composed of sticks, according to Wolley, who took 
several nests of this species in Lapland. He says : “ The nest 
was small, made of old sticks, with a few twigs of the fir and a 
little of the black hair-like lichen which grows so abundantly in 
the northern forests. The situation was near the edge of a 
great marsh with trees all around. Other nests were in taller 
trees, and were larger in size, and the bird will occasionally use 
an old nest of the Osprey.” 
Eggs. — Three or four in number, though sometimes only two 
are found. The ground-colour is a dull white or greenish- 
white, and although the markings and spots vary in number and 
intensity, absolutely white eggs, without any markings, seem to 
