4I r 111
il-,
112 FArx’ONin^.
breeds regularly. In Ireland, according to Thompson, it
was generally to be found in suitable localities, but in
Mr. Watters’s opinion was chiefly confined to the northern
counties, where it bred along the basaltic precipices of the
coast.. It is doubtful whether such is now the case. The
continued destruction of this species in the British Islands
is a matter to be deplored by others than ornithologists.
Mr. Hepburn writing to Macgillivray says : — “ Besides
devouring mice, the Buzzard is of great service to the
farmer in effectually driving off the Ring-Doves from the
corn; ” and Mr. Robert Gray remarks that if it were allowed
to fulfil the ends for which nature designed it, our native
game-birds would benefit by the trial, adding that, “ So far as
my own observations have extended, the Common Buzzard is
just the kind of instrument wanted to clear off sickly young
birds, which on arriving at maturity yield an offspring of a
degenerate breed. Of somewhat sluggish habits, it does not
care to interfere with strong-winged birds, being content
with those that, through wounds or a naturally feeble constitution,
are unable to save themselves. In this way strong
birds only are left, and a healthy breed ensues.” There can
he little doubt that the conclusions of these observers are
indisputable.
On the continent of Europe this Buzzard is very generally
distributed, and in some countries is abundant. The most
northern limit of its breeding-range is not perhaps very
accurately known; but Herr Wallengren was probably correct
when he put it at 62° N. lat. for Norway and 66° for
Sweden. In Finland, as far north as Kajana, it is stated
by Dr. Malmgren to breed and to he the commonest of the
Falconidce; but further eastward Prof. Lilljeborg found it
rare between Lake Onega and Archangel. From this point
its course is not easily traced, few of the Russian ornithologists
having met with it except in the southern provinces
of their country; but Dr. von Middendorff fround it breeding
not uncommonly on the Stannovoi Mountains in the
extreme east of Siberia, particularly remarking that the
example he obtained was not referable to the Buteo
U J L .
japonicus—a bird which is so nearly allied as by some
authorities to be regarded as specifically identical with
B. vulgaris, but distinguishable by having its tarsi more
feathered. The Common Buzzard was formerly said to
occur in the hill-country of India, but Mr. Allan Hume has
lately expressed a doubt on the subject which Mr. Jerdon
is understood to be satisfied is correct. Menetries says that
it is tolerably common in the Caucasus, and Canon Tristram
found it very plentiful in Palestine in winter. In Egypt it
is a rare visitor, and only at that season. Loche says it is
common throughout Algeria and breeds there, but other
naturalists have not been so fortunate as to find it. Nevertheless
it inhabits the Canaries, Macleria and the Azores—the
last group of islands taking its name from this bird, though
the Portugueze word Agor (a corruption of the Latin Astur)
is not that which is usually bestowed upon it.
In North America this species is represented by the nearly-
allied Buteo swainsoni, nowadays considered distinct, as well
as by others of the genus, one of which, Buteo lineatus or
the Red-shouldered Buzzard, is recorded (Ibis, 1865, p. 549)
as having once occurred in Scotland. From information
received from Mr. Gurney it appears also that an example
of Buteo desertorum (Daudin)—a species of extensive
southern and eastern range, has been killed in Wiltshire ;
but as yet no record of the fact seems to have been made
public.
The whole length of the Common Buzzard is from twenty
to twenty-three inches, depending on the sex,—the females
being the largest; from the anterior bend of the wing to
the end of the longest primary fourteen inches and three
eighths. In colour this species is subject to very great
variation, so much so that in a large series no two may be
found precisely alike, and the difference cannot be generally
ascribed to age, sex or locality. Some are almost entirely
of a yellowish-white with a few brown feathers interspersed,
while others are of a nearly uniform dark chocolate-brown.
To describe the almost endless intermediate phases of
plumage would here be impossible, but the following may
VOL. I . Q