J.GouLL k R.C Rulliti; del el hilt
PEHNIS AHFOMTS
Walter. Imp
PERN1S API VORUS.
Honey-Buzzard.
Falco apivorus, Linn. Faun. Suec., p. 23,
Pemis apivorus, Guy. R e g n . Anim., 1817, tom. i. p. 323.
Falco poliorhyttchus, Bechst Taschenb. Deutschl. Vog., tqoa. i p. 19.
dubius, Sparrm. Mus. Carls., tab. 26.
— incertus, Lath. fed. Orn., vol. u p . 32.
Accipiter lacertarius, Fall. Zoog. Ross.-Asiat., tom. i. p- 359.
Pemis opium, Brebut- vog-. Deutschl., tom. i.
— vesparum, Bwfeta, ib. p. 47, tab. 4. fig. 3.
:1|— - apivora, Maygul. Hist. Brit. Bir<&, v o l . §|. p. 2%;
Buteo apivorus, ¥ k i i l . Nouv. Diet. t o m . i v . p. 479.
T h e diversities o f form which exist in e v e r y great g r o u p of b i r d s , a r e a l w a y s accompauied b y a difference
in habits, manners, and economy. A m o n g t u e F a l c o n i d s e m a n y v a r i a t i o n s of this kind occur, s o m e v e r y
marked, others but slightly indicated : thus t h e a e r i a l E a g l e s w i t h t h e i r a m p l e w i n g s and f e a t h e r e d l e g s
generally prey upon living q u a d r u p e d s ; t h e S e a - E a g l c s , d i s t i n g u i s h e d b y t h e i r S c a l y tarai a n d more
lengthened bills, occasionally aupcase t h e i r a p p e t i t e s w i t h c a r r i o n ; the s w i f t - f l y i n g Falcons, remarkable
for their great muscular p o w e r a i d l e n g t h Di' wing, s e i z e Mallards, Grouse, a n d o t h e r birds of like size;
the insect-loving K e s t r e l s a r c ¡ i i . w v c t e r i z e d . b y the f e e b l e n e s s o f t h e i r f e e t a n d c l a w s , a n d the snake-devouring
H arriers by their lengthened legs. T h e s e remarks might b e greatly e x t e n d e d , w e r e i t desirable so to do.
Perhaps no circumstance connected with the Falconiti* is m o r e remarkable t h a n t h a t w e s h o u l d find among
their number a species which is in the habit of f e e d i n g o n the l a r v a o f w a s p s a n d bumblebees : yet this is
really the case ; for we baie abundant evidence that t h e predatory b i r d r e p r e s e n t e d o u the opposite Plate
descends to the ground and d i g s out the nests o f t h o s e insects,.notwithstanding t h e thousands of darts
which must be hurled against this e n e m y o f t h e i r d o m a i n a n d d e s t r o y e r o f their p r o g e n y . O f this particular
Cuckoo-like f o r m , the genus Psniis: there a r c two species, o n e i n h a b i t i n g Europe, the o t h e r India. T h e y
both have the same habits and manners ; both are natives o f w a r m r a t h e r t h a n c o l d regions ; and their
peculiar food being only obtainable during the summer-montbk, it i s a t t h a t season a l o n e t h a t the Honey-
Buzzard i s to be m e t » . i d , i n this country. The bird, however, is not c o n f i n e d t o one k i n d of d iet; for it
passes much o f its t i m e on th e grooml among the herbage in c a p t u r i n g i n s e c t s o f many lands and forms,
from the locust to the grass-loving moth ; i t will a l s o e a t frogs, snakes, and other reptiles, y o u n g birds, their
eggs, and small quadrupeds if t l i è y fall in « s w a y .
I t gives me great pleasure to state that t h e H o n e y - B u z z a r d appears to have b e c o m e , m u c h more common
in England o f late than it was formerly. T h e Kites, the Harriers, and the B u z z a r d s a r e alinosi, all gone,
probably never to r e tu rn ; bnteH
almost a hundred1' instaiu
being on record. t h e
o f protection:
keeper, to whoi
o f collectors.
ensu in g vmw ft
Buzzards, ATm
Since Whit*
observed fin dR
in the * O otbet
good deal fori
Spain, and Ita
the winter, nut
being inimical
M u c h d i v e r !
, howe
o f this species visit m a n y part* o f the South o f England,
. in the New Forest, Wales, N o r f o l k , and o t h e r parts o f the
case, it is to be hoped t h a t the bird will m e e t w i t h some degree
■ r , but a forbirti hope, I fear ; for if the o l d birds escape t h e w a r i n e s s of the game-
hann w h a t e v e r , their nest will he robbed o f i t s b e a u t i f u l eggs t o s u p p l y the demands
deed, be a pleasant sight to. see this bird skimming i n s i l e n t , buoyant, and gliding
r s . or soaring above the trees of our few remaining forèsta. I n t h |t of Hampshire
isaes without the H o u e y - B u z z a r d forming its eyrie in s o m e lofty tre’e ; and if it were
.te d and rear its young, a greater number would doubtless return thither the
the frogs, newts, snakes, and other animals formerly kept in check by H a r r i e r s ,
longer abide there, to say nothing respecting the great v a l u e o f its services in
b e insect« upon which it habitually feeds.
hs interesting account of the nesting of this bird in Selborne Hanger, it has been
times capt ured both in Scotland and in Ireland. Mr. A. N
tances o f its breeding in Lapland, within the Arctic O
had been supposed to extend. It also inhabits
itries, as well as our own, it migrates t o \ « » r t h u r i e
food which would be denied it iu c o l d e r regions—
it feeds, and which then retire to their winter quarters.
Mouring o f this species; the young, too, differ not ou
id f
apply