ROUGH—LEGGED BUZZARD.
JButeo lag op us (J. F. Gmelin).
ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD.
BUTEO LAGOPUS [J. F. Gmelin).
Falco lagopus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 260 (1788); Naum. i.
p. 359.
Buteo lagopus, Macg. iii. p. 193; Hewitson, i. p. 39; Yarr.
ed. 4, i. p. 115.
Archibuteo lagopus, Dresser, v. p.-471.
Archibusepattue, French; Rauchfuss-Bussard, German.
This is a species about which I am unable to give any
information from personal observation of its habits in a
wild state, as I have not seen more than perhaps four or
five individuals at various times sweeping over the open
country of West Norfolk in late autumn and winter.
The Rough-legged Buzzard breeds commonly in the
north of continental Europe, and is by no means an
infrequent autumnal visitor to Great Britain, where it is
generally destroyed very soon after its first appearance;
it certainly prefers open to wooded country during its
visits, and has a very natural predilection for rabbit-
warrens ; otherwise, in general habits, it seems to
resemble the Common Buzzard, but it is a larger and
much more powerful bird, and may be distinguished