The Common Buzzard 
as a Pet. 
(133) 
THE BIRD WORLD. 
this of course is the ideal way in which to enjoy 
such a pet. It is a bird which loves to soar aloft, 
however—where on outstretched and motionless 
wings it exactly resembles a little Eagle—and 
will inevitably wander at times a consid*. rable dis¬ 
tance from home; and there are, unfortunately, 
but few places in this country where so large and 
conspicuous a bird can be trusted to escape from 
the undesirable attention of keepers and other 
gun-carrying persons. Too much freedom is 
therefore frequently a misapplied kindness, and 
it is safer in most cases to rest content with mak¬ 
ing the bird as comfortable as possible in its 
aviary. 
A Variable Bird. 
In plumage the Buzzard varies to a consider¬ 
able extent, the under parts of some examples 
being very much lighter coloured than others. 
Adults are as a rule of a deep, purplish brown 
above, but the feathers lose much of their gloss 
as they become old and worn, and before the 
moult, which takes place annually in autumn, 
the birds present a greyish-brown appearance. 
The iris is dark hazel in the adult, yellowish in 
young birds, and as it is always desirable to begin 
with a young one, this is a point of distinction 
worth keeping in mind in purchasing a Buzzard. 
As with all birds of prey, the female exceeds the 
male in size, and is commonly the darker 
coloured. 
Buzzards as Foster Mothers. 
The partiality of the Buzzard to the task of 
incubating is well known, and failing eggs of her 
own she has been known to sit upon and hatch 
those of Fowls on different occasions, afterwards 
proving herself a most attentive mother to her 
unnatural brood. Where a tame bird, without a 
mate, shows an inclination to nest in an aviary, 
an excellent opportunity is presented by getting 
the eggs of some allied species hatched and the 
young reared under the best possible conditions, 
a chance which should never be neglected by the 
fortunate possessor of such a willing foster- 
mother. If fertile eggs of some rare Hawk or 
Owl could be obtained on such an emergency the 
owner would probably find himself amply recom¬ 
pensed for any trouble or expense he might have 
been put to in getting them, besides having all 
the pleasure of seeing the strangers hatched and 
brought up in his enclosure. 
A Baby Buzzard. 
The photograph here reproduced is of a young 
Buzzard, just fledged, which was taken from a 
nest of two, and hand-reared this season. As 
the picture shows, it is perfectly at home in the 
orchard in which it wais brought up, and as tame 
and fearless as a bird could well be. The upper 
part of its head is still covered with the white 
nestling-down, showing up like a coronet in the 
picture. 
The Rose-crested Cockatoo. 
Of all the Cockatoos the great Rose or Salmon- 
crested species is the most tame and amusing. 
All the specimens that come to hand seem to be 
hand-reared, and they are very intelligent though 
they do not excel as linguists. 
A HANDY BOOK FOR 
LOVERS OF BIRD LIFE 
Birds of the 
Countryside 
By FRANK FINN, B.A. 
In Cloth gilt, 5/- net 
With about 130 full-page and other Illustrations and 
12 full-page Coloured Plates 
“No better or more interesting com¬ 
panion for a stroll in the spring and 
summer days could be chosen by those 
who wish to be on speaking acquain¬ 
tance with the birds they may come 
across ”— Westminster Gazette 
LONDON : HUTCHINSON & Co. 
Paternoster Row 
