THE HONEY BUZZARD. 
543 
other more or less destructive animals, are daily entombed 
f 
in the crops of Buzzards; and on this account these birds 
are, we think, worthy of our highest consideration. 
In Germany we have three different species of this 
family: the Common Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris ), the Rough¬ 
legged’ Buzzard (.Archibuteo lagopus), and the Honey 
Buzzard. The latter is, in many respects, exceptionally 
remarkable; and on this account I have selected it as 
worthy of being the subject of a special chapter. Though 
inhabiting the whole of Europe, with the exception of the 
more northern portion of that continent, this bird cannot 
be regarded exactly as common in any district. The 
Honey Buzzard is fond of low-land countries, where 
there is an alternation of wood, water, and meadow. 
This bird is not fond of dense forest: it is a bird of 
passage, and only a summer guest, while the allied 
species remain the winter with us, and, be it said, 
much to our benefit. The Honey Buzzard is two feet in 
length, and the spread of its wings covers some four feet 
six inches. In plumage the Honey Buzzard varies very 
much, as is also the case with other members of the 
family. The following varieties are those mostly to be 
met with : wholly brown; brown, and white-spotted, with 
the dark back; white-bellied, with greenish head and 
brown back; light brown, with dark back; white, or a 
yellow-greenish white, with dark brown back and light 
head: besides these there are other varieties. In spite 
of such diversity of plumage, the Honey Buzzard is easily 
distinguishable, by the slightness of its build, from allied 
species, and is still more noticeable from its singular 
habits. 
This bird is, perhaps, the most timid of all European 
birds of prey, but is remarkable for its good temper. Its 
