NESTS OP THE BUZZARDS. 
177 
“ holes of rocks*,” very often deposit their eggs among 
the loose and decayed vegetable substances that are gene- 
rally found within. The buzzards differ materially 
from the three preceding groups of falcons in their nidi- 
fication, no less than in their general structure ; for 
their nest is either placed upon, or very near to the 
ground. Thus Bewick remarks that the nest of the 
moor buzzard is placed a little above the surface, or on 
hillocks covered with thick herbage, while that of the 
Circus cyamus is stated to be placed on the ground : 
the American variety builds indifferently on the ground, 
or on low bushes.t The common buzzard seems to differ 
materially from the foregoing, inasmuch as it builds 
in trees. It may be questioned, however, whether this 
species really belongs to the Butnormue, for its man- 
ners, in other respects, are totally different from such 
falcons as hunt, like swallows, for their prey. As to the 
nidification of the kites, we can find no account suffi- 
ciently explicit to be (|Uoted as an authority. Meagre 
as our materials are, we yet see that, so far as they ap- 
pear authentic, there is presumptive evidence that each 
family, or group, even among the falcons, have a pe- 
culiarity of nidification, which a better acquaintance 
with other species would substantiate J)y more numerous 
examples. The owls are no less peculiar ; whether they 
deposit their eggs in a tree, or in a building, or upon 
the ground, a hole is always selected for the purpose ; 
and the great majority, if not the whole, never appear 
to construct any nest. We shall subsequently have oc- 
casion to advert to this fact. 
(152.) The order of Perchers not only comprehends 
nearly the whole of the remaining arboreal builders, 
but contains examples of all the other modes of niditi- 
cation found in the remaining orders. W e shall com- 
mence with such as build in trees, eidier singly or in 
societies, and then proceed to notice such other groups 
in the order as deviate more particularly from this 
typical character of the whole. 
* Bewick. + North. Zool. vol. ii. P- 
N 
