Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/76

50 tail. It is somewhat remarkable that the Rough-legged Buzzard was unrecognized here until December 6th, 1876, the common species occurring almost every year about November 1st. On December 6th I went to a well-known haunt of the Common Buzzard to see if any were about, and I at once perceived two Buzzards hovering over a wood. I noticed several peculiarities in their appearance. Their heads were conspicuously light in colour, and their long wings and hovering flight gave them a somewhat aquiline appearance. Waiting about the place, I very soon had a good view of one which was being chased by a Hooded Crow, and presently settled on a low tree. I had now no doubt what they were. The whitish head, white basal half of the tail, whitish under side of the wings, dark band across the belly, and yellowish edgings to the upper plumage, all convinced me that they were the rough-legged species. Seen on the wing, the mottled plumage of the back presented a sort of marbled appearance, with alternate light and shade. Seen sitting, the yellowish edgings predominated, making the bird look like the light-coloured race of the Sea Eagle which is found in Egypt. The light under side of the wings, excepting one dark spot, is a very sure mark of distinction from the Common Buzzard. But, above all, the flight is unmistakably different. It is almost the difference between a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk, the wings of Archibuteo lagopus being long and slightly pointed, instead of straight and round: this feature is very noticeable when the bird is flying away from you, the points of the wings being directed backwards. In the rapid beating of the wings, with alternate smooth glidings and shootings, the Roughlegged Buzzard resembles the Hawks and Falcons rather than the Buzzards. Sometimes even he will sweep along with curved wings almost like a Sea Gull. The head looks less heavy than in the common species. I am sorry to say that within forty-eight hours one of these fine birds was trapped at a Pigeon, which was supposed to have been killed by a Sparrowhawk. On the 18th and 19th December I saw the other. When disturbed he perched on the very top of a tall ash, from which he watched the intruder intently. While looking at the two Rough-legged Buzzards on December 6th they were joined by a third bird, uniformly brown in colour, and with shorter and rounder wing, This I have little doubt was a Common Buzzard. In November last I twice saw a Firecrest here, in company with Goldcrests among bracken. I noticed the black stripe through the eye, which readily distinguishes this bird from the commoner species.—

—On the 4th of March, 1870, when visiting the island of Bartragh with two friends, our attention was attracted by a pair of large ducks resting at low water on the edge of the channel near the bar. They appeared to be much larger than Mallards, and looked almost as dark as Scoters, with the exception of the front of the neck and upper part of the breast, which were white, and a