THE AMERICAN ROUGH-LEG. 511 



timber of elm the only opportunit_\- for shelter to be had for miles in either 

 direction. Into the more prominent trees of this coveted timber on a late 

 October afternoon came a large detachment of migratory Hawks, to the 

 number of a thousand or so. Xo doubt the Swainson Hawks formed the bulk 

 of the predatory host gone into camp for the night, but the most notable 

 feature of the gathering was the \-ariety of its constituent species. At least 

 it seemed to an excited small bo_\- that Hawks of e\erv shape, size, and hue 

 were seated before him, paying no attention to his presence, save to yawn as 

 they reviewed the day's long journey. Shades of Audubon ! What a sight ! 

 But that was before the davs of the Graflex. 



No. 207. 



AMERICAN ROUGH-LEG. 



A. O. U. No. 347a. Archibuteo lagopus sancti^johannis (Gmel.). 



Synonyms. — American Rough-lkgoku Hawk. Rough Legged Buzzard. 



Description. — Adult, normal (light) phase: Head and neck all around 

 white or flaxen, narrowly streaked with dark brown, sparingly on throat ; re- 

 maining upperparts dark brown or brownish fuscous, varied by ochraceous or 

 ochraceous-bufify, marginal brownish gray and outcropping white ; wing-quills 

 not barred, at least on exposed surfaces, but grayish-edged and with much basal 

 white on inner web ; four outer primaries deeply emarginate ; upper tail-coverts 

 and basal portion of tail (usually for more than half its length) white; terminal 

 portion of tail crossed by broad, subterminal band of dusky, and usually by 

 several narrow, irregular or broken bands anterior to this; underparts whitish, 

 or pale ochraceous-buffy, spotted or broadh' streaked, chiefly on breast, with 

 blackish ; a loose broken band of dusky across belly ; thighs often ochraceous ; 

 tarsi feathered to the toes, in front; feet yellow; bill and claws black. Immature, 

 normal ['hasc: Similar to adult, but terminal portion of tail plain grayish brown; 

 primaries with basal white on external web; markings of underparts confluent 

 on belly in a broad, unbroken, abdominal belt of deep brown ; thighs spotted with 

 dusky. Adult and immature, melanistic l^hase: Entire plumage black, in any 

 degree, save that the tail is white-barred and primaries exhibit some basal white. 

 This phase is quite common and seems to be independent of age, sex, or season. 

 Both sexes, length: 19.50-23.50 (495.3-596.9); wing 15.75-18-00 (400.1-475.2); 

 tail 9.00-1 1. 00 (228.6-279.4) ; culmen from cere .80-.90 (20.3-22.9). Female about 

 two inches longer than male and correspondingly proportioned. 



Recognition Marks. — Brant size ; feathered tarsi distinctive ; best recognized 

 in the field by its, usually, dark coloration and heavy flight ; basal white of tail 

 also distinctive if properly discriminated from that of the upper tail-coverts of 

 the Marsh Hawk. 



Nesting. — Not known to breed in Washington. N^est: a bulky affair placed 

 high in trees or on ledges of rock : of sticks, fairly well-lined with bark strips. 



