40 
FALCONID7E. 
RAPTORES. 
FA LCON1DJE. 
HONEY BUZZARD. 
Pernis apivorus. 
PLATE XV. 
A much greater number of this species have of late 
been noticed as vistors of our island than had been for 
many previous years recorded. 
They have occurred during the last few years in various 
parts of England, and amongst several instances of their 
appearance in Northumberland, Mr. John Hancock has 
singularly obtained two fresh specimens, picked up dead 
upon the sea-shore. 
It seems, however, to have been more numerous many 
years ago. Willoughby mentions a pair which made use of 
an old nest of the kite to breed in, and further states that 
the Honey Buzzard builds its nest of twigs, lining it with 
wool; and White thus refers to one at Selborne : “ A 
pair of Honey Buzzards built there a large shallow nest, 
composed with twigs, and lined with dead beechen leaves, 
upon a tall slender beech near the middle of Selborne 
Hanger, in the summer of 1780. In the middle of the 
month of June, a bold boy climbed the tree and brought 
down the egg, the only one in the nest, which had been 
sat upon for some time, and contained the embryo of a 
young bird.” 
I must regard that ignorance as bliss which was pro¬ 
ductive to the ornithologist of the following interesting 
information; to myself of* a pleasant correspondence and 
a kind friend. I now copy from the pages of the “ Zoolo- 
