81 
legs stout and short, of a dull yellow. It breeds on 
trees, and lays three or four smallish eggs, white, 
blotched with brown. It is very fond of the larvae 
of bees and wasps, and feeds also on field mice, frogs, 
and lizards. The Honey Buzzard does not soar like 
the kite, but flies from tree to tree. I have stuffed 
at least three specimens found in this district, al¬ 
though various writers say it is a rare bird in Scot¬ 
land. 
5th. Circus czruginosus^ the Moor Buzzard, -Marsh 
Harrier, or Harpy, measures 22 inches in length, and 
4 feet 6 inches in breadth of wings. The colour 
varies in individuals, but generally the upper parts 
are amber brown tinged with grey, deeper brown 
beneath, head, neck, and shoulders, yellowish white. 
It builds usually on the ground, but occasionally in the 
fork of some large tree ; the eggs are white. It fre¬ 
quents marshy ground and pools, as its name duck- 
hawk indicates ; flies low, and feeds on water-fowls, 
rats, frogs, &c. I have not seen a fresh specimen of 
this Buzzard for a great many years. 
6th. Circus cyaneus^ the Hen Harrier or Bing- 
tailed Buzzard, measures 18 inches in length, and 
over 3 feet in breadth. The male has a light bluish 
grey back, the under portions being white. The 
female is amber brown above, pale reddish yellow 
streaked with brown beneath, tail coverts w^hite, and 
when the wings are opened the bar or ring across the 
base of the tail is very conspicuous, and hence the 
name “ Bingtail,’’ which is given to this species. 
All the female Harriers have feathers resembling a 
ruff around the head, below the eyes, approaching in 
this respect nearest to the family of the Owls. The 
Ken Harrier nests on the ground among heath, lays 3 
to 5 eggs, of a bluish white colour, and lives on grouse, 
hares, reptiles, &c. I have two specimens in my 
collection at present, one shot at the Burghmuir. 
This bird is still occasionally to be met with in the 
county. 
7th. Milvus regalis, the Fort ed-tail Kite or Gled. 
Size, 27 by 63 inches; upper parts reddish brown, 
lower parts light brownish red ; the tail is deeply 
forked ; tho bill is horn-coloured, and bristled at 
