BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 193 



The dark, cloudy days of early spring and late autumn are 

 those in which to keep a good lookout for the Rough-legged 

 Hawk. He then flies low and always slowly, especially during 

 the day, and more commonly over swampy meadows in search 

 of his inglorious prey of frogs, mice, lizzards, snakes and 

 large insects, with an eye out for some unfortunate bird but 

 half killed by the hunter. They frequently extend their 

 search for food late into the twilight, which in our high lati- 

 tude is late indeed, manifesting an owl-like nature which is 

 further intimated by the full, soft plumage embracing the 

 legs, feathered to the toes in front. A favorite place for them 

 is located half a mile from my summer cottage at Lake Minne- 

 netonka, a spot I have habitually visited at both the seasons 

 when this species is still here and which consists of a morass 

 that was at no ancient period an arm or bay of the lake, when 

 it sustained a somewhat higher surface than now and in which 

 are denizened representatives of nearly all kinds of supplies 

 for them. They come to the marsh so quietly that except the 

 eye is kept on the field, they may have drifted slowly its 

 whole length and be vanishing through an opening in the 

 woods which leads to another swale or slough, when first 

 discovered, but if a little patience is exercised, they will 

 return to traverse the marsh again, when possibly a better 

 opportunity is enjoyed for observing them. Perchance, in- 

 deed probably, he will alight on a muskrat house in the middle 

 or on a dry limb overhanging the water, where he will remain 

 almost motionless for an hour at a time if unmolested. When 

 surprised suddenly they have a habit of screaming in a most 

 unmusical fashion as they sail heavily away into the forest for 

 safety. I hear from an amateur ornithologist residing at a 

 little distance from Red Lake Falls, Mr. L. Bothman, that a 

 nest of this species had been found near there, but with 

 neither bird nor eggs to settle the identification. I do not feel 

 justified in fully accepting the statement, 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Head above yellowish-white, with longitudinal stripes of 

 brown tinged with reddish, especially on the occiput; back, 

 scapulars and shorter quills pale-cinereous, with partially con- 

 cealed transverse bands of white and dark- brown, the latter 

 frequently predominating and giving the color on the back; 

 rump dark umber-brown; longer quills and wing coverts dark 

 umber-brown; primaries edged externally with ashy, and with 

 a large space on their inner webs at the base, white with a 

 silky lustre; under parts white; throat with longitudinal 



