LAND BIRDS. 283 



■ Distribution. — North America north of Mexico, breeding north of the 

 United States (except in Alaska). 



This is a beautiful and valuable hawk, which is found with us only during 

 the colder half of the year, passing beyond our northern boundary to nest. 

 It arrives from the north usually in October or November and in favorable 

 seasons and localities some may winter, l)ut the majority pass farther 

 south after the streams and lakes freeze up. It returns in the spring with 

 the disappearance of snow, and a few linger until the first week in May 

 (Greenville, May 4, 1898, Selous). 



Dr. Atkins, of Locke, reported it as breeding there (O. & O. IX, 44), 

 but this was certainly an error. No unquestionable instance of its nesting 

 within the borders of the United States (except in Alaska) has been recorded, 

 and the numerous reports of its nesting in Maine, Wisconsin, and Minnesota 

 have all been discredited. A single credible record is that of a nest and two 

 eggs found in Nelson county. North Dakota, June 7, 1901, by Mr. A. C. 

 Bent (Auk, XVIII, 393); the bird, however, was not killed in this case, 

 and although the collector of the eggs was positive of the identification, 

 there is still room for question. It nests in Labrador on ledges, cliffs, 

 etc., and in Alaska mainly in trees, 20 feet or more above the ground, 

 but occasionally on banks, bluiTs and cliffs. It lays from two to five eggs 

 (usually three or four) which are dingy white, sometimes plain, but oftener 

 spotted and blotched with various shades of brown and gray in every 

 conceivable degree and pattern. They average 2.31 by 1.74 inches. 



While with us in spring and fall this hawk frequents by preference open, 

 low lying lands and marshes, where it perches on the tops of scattered trees 

 watching for its prey, which consists almost entirely of meadow-mice, 

 and frogs. In favorable situations, where such food is abundant, the 

 birds sometimes gather in considerable numbers, so that sometimes 30 or 

 40 may be seen in the course of a week and a large number may be shot 

 during the season. This has happened several times at the St. Clair Flats 

 and in the marshes bordering Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River. The 

 Rough-leg is irregular in its visits, some years appearing in considerable 

 numbers and during other years none being seen. It does absolutely 

 no harm to the farmer and should be rigidly protected. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Entire leg feathered to base of toes; basal half or more of tail white or whitish, the 

 remainder dark, four outer primaries emarginate on inner web. 



Normal Adult: Plimiage too variable for description, but the above points are sufficient 

 if the specimen is in hand. In addition, there is usually a broad dark zone across the 

 lower breast and belly, sometimes solid fuscous or black, sometimes made up of a more 

 or less fused mass of spots, streaks and bars. The latter condition is said to characterize 

 older birds, while the solid dark zone indicates immaturity. As a rule tiie vipper parts 

 closely resemble those of the Red-tail, altliough the head and neck average lighter colored. 

 A dark phase (melanistic) is not uncommon, in which the entire bird is black or ])lackish 

 except the forehead, base of tail and inner webs of primaries, which are white. Inter- 

 mediate stages are also common. 



Male: Length 19.50 to 22 inches; wing l').?") to Ki.SO; tail 9 to 10. Female: Length 

 21.50 to 23.50 inches; wing 16 to 18; tail 9 (o 11. 



