8 NEW- YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



Description. Bill compressed ; edge of upper mandible slightly undulated. Eyebrows 

 prominent ; third quill longest ; fourth nearly equal. Tail moderately rounded. Tarsi thickly 

 covered with short feathers, which project over the insertion of the toes. Wings reaching 

 nearly to the tail. 



Color. Mostly black and chocolate-brown. Head and upper parts of the neck and body 

 streaked with brownish black. Upper surface of wings black or brown. Belt across the 

 belly dark, often black. Upper tail-coverts white, with interrupted bars of black or brownish 

 black. Feathers on the thighs light reddish brown, with angular spots of dark brown. Breast 

 pale yellowish, with interrupted streaks of light brown. Bill bluish black. Cere yellow. 



Length, 20-0-25-0. 



This species exhibits such variations in its plumage, as to have occasioned some confusion 

 among systematic writers. It was originally described by Gmelin and Latham as a distinct 

 species, F. S. Joannis. Wilson described one form as identical with F. lagopus of Europe, 

 in which he was followed by all ornithologists down to 1838, when Bonaparte separated it 

 from that species. The other form was described as new, under the name of niger, and so 

 received until Bonaparte confirmed Wilson's previous suspicions by arranging it under its 

 present name ; leaving, however, the old name of lagopus to stand, and thus making two 

 nominal species, which, however he finally united into one. 



The Rough-legged Buzzard, or Black Haivh, is a northern species, rarely found beyond 

 Carolina. In this State, where it is often called the Marsh Hawk, it is rarely seen except in 

 the autumn and winter, proceeding northward in the spring, and has been observed as high 

 as the 68th parallel of north latitude. Its usual haunts are low grounds, where it preys upon 

 mice, small birds, frogs, etc. Its flight is low and leisurely, and it appears to be more noc- 

 turnal in its habits than any other species of the family. 



