the Common Buzzard; but it does not exhibit quite the same
extent of variation in the colour of the plumage. The Roughlegged
Buzzard, although it has been killed in almost every
English county, and occurs, occasionally in large numbers, in
this country every year, must be regarded as the more rare
bird of the two, and is usually observed in autumn or winter.
But instances have been recorded of its breeding in Great
Britain, the most trustworthy perhaps of which is that
mentioned by the late Mr. Williamson of Scarborough, who
in a communication made to the Zoological Society in 1836,
stated that it “ breeds occasionally in a precipitous dell near
Hackness,” and further particulars 011 this subject have been
supplied to Mr. More (Ibis, 1865, p. 12) by Mr. Alwin
Bell. Mr. Edward of Banff also says (Zool. p. 5201) that
its nest has been found in that neighbourhood.
The Rough-legged Buzzard appears to prefer much the
same kind of habitat as the Common Buzzard ; but when it
visits the British Islands it rather haunts the open country
and especially such districts as abound in rabbits, which
with smaller mammals, water-fowl and reptiles constitute
its chief food. In some years the number which occurs is
very large, and the autumn of 1839 was particularly thus
distinguished. Macgillivray (Brit. Birds, iii. p. 736) has
noticed its abundance at that time in various parts of this
island, as Messrs. Gurney and Fisher have also done with
especial reference to the neighbourhood of Thetford. In
1858, according to Mr. Stevenson, it was again numerous in
the locality last mentioned. In Scotland it appears also in
autumn, and at irregular periods is plentiful, but more commonly
on the east than on the west coast. I 11 Ireland several
instances of its occurrence are on record.
I he flight of this bird is slow but smooth, and, except
during its migrations, is seldom continued for any great
length of time. I t generally has its nest on high trees and
lays, rather early in the year, from three to five eggs, a very
large series of which was obtained in Lapland by the late
Mr. W olley, some of the most beautiful being figured in the
catalogue of his collection (Ootli. Woll. pis, v., vi.). They
vary exceedingly in colour, shape and size. Some cannot
be distinguished from those of the preceding species or of
the Kite, while others are tinted and marked almost as
richly as the finest eggs of the Golden Eagle. They measure
from 2-44 to 1-82 by 1-95 to 1'53 in. Several nests were
examined by the accurate and enthusiastic naturalist last
named. One, to which he climbed, was in a Scotch-fir of
no great size, and contained two young birds, one not many
days hatched, the other much larger. They were white, just
like young Eaglets. The nest was small, made of old sticks
with a few twigs of the fir and a little of the black liair-
like lichen which grows so abundantly in the northern
forests. The situation was near the edge of a great marsh
with trees all around. Other nests were in taller trees and
were larger in size, and the bird will occasionally use an old
nest of the Osprey. On approaching its haunts in the
breeding season the Rougli-legged Buzzard will betray its
presence by a plaintive wailing which has been compared by
some persons to the mewing of a cat, while to the ears of
others it sounds not unmusically, though never so much so
as the whistling notes of a Kite.
This species inhabits the northern parts of the European
and Asiatic continents. In Norway and Sweden it breeds in
the higher subalpine districts, and in Lapland, even to the
neighbourhood of the North Cape, is the most common bird
of prey. In Russia Pallas states that it is somewhat rare,
but common in Siberia, even in the extreme north and in
Dauuria. Dr. von Middendorff found it breeding on the
Boganida, but neither Dr. von Schrenck nor Herr Radde
mention its occurrence in Amoor-land or in South-eastern
Siberia. The southern limit of its eastern range is unknown,
but it has not been taken in India. Messrs. Elwes and
Buckley saw examples which had been killed near Constantinople,
and Dr. Erhard says that it occurs in winter in the
Cyclades, though neither Yon der Muhle nor Dr. Linder-
mayer have observed it in Greece. I t occasionally appears in
northern Italy, and, according to Savi, Prince Charles Lucien
Bonaparte obtained one at Rome. In Savoy it would seem