courage, as compared with others of the Falconidce, has been
questioned ; since it is known to attack such animals as are
either young or defenceless, which it does not pursue in
flight but seizes upon the ground. Though occasionally
seen soaring in the air in circles, it is more frequently
observed stationed on a tree, from which if approached it
starts out with a confused and hurried flight, indicative of
fear. In such cases it has probably been resting after its
meal, and Sir William Jardine states that he has known the
same station taken up day after day, and hours spent by the
bird in motionless repose. If not suddenly disturbed when
roused from its perch, or during the season of incubation,
says the same observer, “ the flight is slow and majestic; the
birds rise in easy and graceful gyrations, often to an
immense height, uttering occasionally their shrill and
melancholy whistle. At this time, to a spectator underneath,
and in particular lights, they appear of immense
size; the motions of the tail when directing the circles may
be plainly perceived, as well as the beautiful markings on
it and on the wings, sometimes rendered very plain and
distinct by the body being thrown upwards and the light
falling on the clear and silvery tints of the base of the
feathers. The Buzzard is a fine accompaniment to the
landscape, whether sylvan or wild and rocky.”
Macgillivray also gives the Buzzard a character for great
activity; but the nature of the country where he observed
it may require greater exertion to ensure a sufficient supply
of food. In Scotland it generally forms its nest on rocks, or
on the edges of steep scars or beds of torrents : one nest
described by the writer last named was placed in such a
situation and was composed of twigs, heather, wool and
other substances. A nest seen by Wolley was built into the
roots of a mountain-ash, between the trunk and the rock,
and made of heather-stalks lined with Luzula. Another
visited by him was on the horizontal bough of a Scotch-fir,
and the year before had been occupied by a Kite ; but in all
the nests described by him the Luzula formed part of the
lining. In England the Buzzard usually builds, or takes to,
a nest in the forked branches of a tree in a large wood: the
materials with which the nest is made, or repaired, are
similar to those that have been already named.
The female lays two or three, and sometimes four eggs,
of a short oval form, measuring from 2’32 to 2 by 1‘86 to
T58 in., and greatly resembling those of the Bed Kite
already described, but seldom if ever presenting any trace of
the violet tints which the latter not uufrequently exhibit.
Both parent birds attend upon and feed their young with
great assiduity; and Willughby says, that the male Buzzard
will brood the offspring if the hen is killed, as is the case
with many kinds of birds. The young accompany the
parents for some little time after they quit the n e s t; and
White of Selborne adds, that they follow their dam with a
piping and wailing noise.
The partiality of this species to the task of incubation
and rearing young birds has been exemplified in various
instances, one of the latest being mentioned by Mr. Rocke
(Zool. p. 9686). Many years ago a female Buzzard, kept in
a garden at Uxbridge, showed an inclination to sit by collecting
all the loose sticks she could obtain. Her owner, noticing
her actions, supplied her with materials; she completed her
nest, and sat on two hen’s eggs, which she hatched, and
afterwards reared the young. For some years afterwards
she thus hatched and brought up a brood of chickens
annually. One summer, to save her the fatigue of sitting,
some young chickens just hatched were put down to h e r ;
but she destroyed the whole. Her family in June, 1831,
consisted of nine. When flesh was given to her, she was
very assiduous in tearing and offering it as food to her
nurslings.
Though far more rare now than formerly, an enumeration of
the counties in which this bird yet continues to breed is hardly
necessary. In the eastern and midland parts, however, as ascertained
by Mr. More a few years ago, it has been nearly exterminated,
though migratory examples not unfrequently occur
in autumn. In the west and north of Great Britain, excepting
the Outer Hebrides, the Orkneys and Shetlands, it still