. British birds . Fig. 73.—Honey-Buzzard. i natural size. Hampshire to Aberdeenshire. Up to within four or live years agoa few pairs continued to return to us each summer, but these, too,have now vanished. This fine large hawk, in size the equal of thecommon buzzard, lived almost entirely on insect food, wasps andwild bees especially—hence its name of honey-buzzard. The remaining species to be noticed are all true falcons: thegyrfalcon {Hierofalco gyrfalco), an inhabitant of arctic Scandinavia,only once obtained in this country; the Greenland falcon (Hiero-falco candicans), a wanderer to this
. British birds . Fig. 73.—Honey-Buzzard. i natural size. Hampshire to Aberdeenshire. Up to within four or live years agoa few pairs continued to return to us each summer, but these, too,have now vanished. This fine large hawk, in size the equal of thecommon buzzard, lived almost entirely on insect food, wasps andwild bees especially—hence its name of honey-buzzard. The remaining species to be noticed are all true falcons: thegyrfalcon {Hierofalco gyrfalco), an inhabitant of arctic Scandinavia,only once obtained in this country; the Greenland falcon (Hiero-falco candicans), a wanderer to this coimtry from north-westAmerica and Greenland ; the Iceland falcon (Hierofalco islandicus),a wanderer from Iceland; the red-footed falcon (Tinnimculusvespertinus), an occasional visitor from the warm countries ofEurope; and the lesser kestrel (Tinnunculua cenchris), a visitorfrom southern Europe, where it breeds. 218 BBITISH BIBDS Fio. 74.—Cormorant. i\ natural size. Upper head and neck black, striated with hair-like white feathers,those on the occiput being elongated, and forming a crest in spring ;throat white; gular pouch yellow; mantle black and bronze-brown ; all the other parts black, except a white patch on the thigh,assumed early in spring and lost in summer; iris : larger than the male, brighter in colour, and with longercrest. Length, three feet. To those who know it slightly the cormorant is a big, sombre,ugly bird, heavy and awkward in his motions out of the water, and,when breeding, disgusting in his habits. He improves on a closeracquaintance. He may be easily tamed, and makes an intelligent,and sometimes very amusing, pet, and is capable of being trained GOBMOBANT 219 to catch fish for his keeper. He is most frequently met with on thesea and seashore, but is an inhabitant of inland waters as well,and sometimes breeds beside them, making his nest on the groundor in a tree. He
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