ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD. 145 



the continent, and is by some considered as the youiigv 

 But certainly the difference between the Black Hawk, 

 so called, and the Rough-ieg-g-ed Falcon in its ordinary 

 state, is not greater in colonr than that between a clio- 

 <j()late-brown Common Buzzard, and an individual of 

 the nearly white variety. 



Habits. — The Rough-legged Buzzard is a native of 

 the northern parts of Europe and America, and has not 

 been observed to breed in Britain, individuals merely 

 visiting that country occasionally in the winter season. 

 Mr Selby, who had an opportunity of observing two 

 individuals which had stationed themiselves in his vici- 

 nity, seems to be the only British writer who has spoken 

 Df their habits from his €wn observation. *' Tlieir 

 flight," he says, " was smooth, but slow, and not unlike 

 that of the Common Buzzard, and they seldom con- 

 tinued for any length of time on the wing. They 

 preyed upon wild ducks and other birds, which they 

 pounced upon the ground; and it would appear that 

 mice and frogs must have constituted a great part of 

 their food, as the remains of both were found in the 

 stomachs of those that were killed." 



Temminck informs us, that it frequents the edges of 

 woods in the neighbourhood of marshes and lakes ; in 

 autumn and winter is common in the northern parts of 

 Europe; feeds on water-rats, hamsters, moles, young 

 rabbits, leverets, and birds of various kinds, often also 

 on serpents and frogs ; and nestles on large trees, lay- 

 ing four eggs, shaded with reddish, 



Dr Richardson found it not uncommon in the fur 

 countries of North America; but ^^Ir Audubon did not 



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