692 



SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — RAPTORES - A CCIPITRES. 



tent crepuscular in habits, of low, easy, and almost noiseless fliglit ; preying upon insignifi- 

 cant quarry, particularly small rodent and insectivorous mammals, reptiles, batrachians, and 

 insects. With us it is only a migrant in spring and fall, and a winter resident, breeding almost 

 entirely north of the U. S. (excepting Alaska); but doubtless nests near our northern border as 

 it does rarely on it, as in North Dakota. Nest usually in trees, but frequently on a ledge of 



V^^^^^^_^ 



Fio. 472. — Rough-legged Buzzard, J nat. size. (From Brehm.) 



rocks or the edge of a cut-bank; a bulky mass of interlaced sticks, with softer matted material 

 of miscellaneous kinds; eggs 2-5, ordinarily 3 or 4, laid late in May and in June, 2.05-2.45 

 X 1.65-1.85, averaging 2.25 X 1.80; varying in color from dingy whitish with scarcely any 

 marking, or but faint clouding, to creamy-white boldly variegated with blotches and washes 

 of dark brown on the surface, with neutral-tiut markings in the substance of the shell. 



{Subgenus Brewstekia.) 



A. ferrugi'neus. (Lat. ferrngo, iron-rust.) Ferruginous Rough-legged Buzzard. 

 " California Squirrel Hawk." " Eagle Hawk." Adult $ 9 : Below, pure white from 

 bill to end of tail; legs rich rufous or bright chestnut barred with black, in marked contrast ; 

 usually a few chestnut bars or arrow-heads on belly and flanks, and breast with sharp shaft 

 lines of black. The older the bird tlie purer white below, with more perfect contrast of chest- 



