202 R O ^ G//-I, F. a GED HA \VX. 



ploiisnntest sc:isou of our New EiiH,'lanil cliiivate lias pasf; whoa the brown, frost-bitten lanti' 

 and darkening sea, looks dreary and eold in the e.udy light of morning, it is not uncomnioit 

 to see ;i large Hawk ])erehed on the topmost limb of some solitary tree that overlooks a 

 wide extent of country. The bird looks sluggish and half-frozen but if oiie attempts to 

 approach too near, it launches downwa.rd and flies heavily to some distant tree, disclosing 

 as it goes, the white on the under jiortiou of the wings, by whitd: even the amateur wilt 

 not fail to recognize the Rough-legged Hawk. Ttiese birds freijnent tlie shores almost con- 

 stantly during autumn and winter, feeding upon fish and other dead animals which are cast 

 up by the se;i, or they will occt;si(uially catch a mouse, suspending themselves over it, after 

 the manner of the Spirrow Hawk, b;^fore pouncing upon it. The flight of these HawlvS is 

 quite heavy and they seldom clnde about higli in air, but when hunting, ily along about 

 twenty feet a,bove the ground. 



As intimateil, the Rough-legged Hawks are quite sluggish in habit and may oftener 

 be seen sitting than Hying, yet tho:!y appear to fare well in spite of their indolence, for [ do 

 not remember handling one (hat was not in good condition; in fact, they are usually very 

 fa.t. Altb.ough f[nite i>owerl'i'il birds, they are A'cry gentle in captivity whi-n Ircateil well. 

 Almost all Hawks become tame if captured when young, thcnigh they are sehUuu gi'utle 

 wlu'u taken after they beinmie fully grown, liut tlie llough-legged ri'adily Ix'conie familiar 

 and nia,ke excellent pets. 



As rohded, these Hawks prefer the sea-shore to the interior and are found along the 

 entire New Engbuid c^oast during winter, but they are particularly abundant in New Jer- 

 sey and I have seen several in sight at one time. Like most uiigTants, they make their 

 appearance quite suddenly, remain through the cold weather, then depart as they come, 

 without warning. According to authors, they breed in the far north, placing their nests 

 in tre(!s or on rocky cliifs. 



]''AMILY V. AQUILID.l^:. THE TRUE EAGLES. 



The atcrnum 'a lung, exceeding its ividtli, wide, about equaling the length of the coracoids^ 

 hut the scapular jn-ucesa i)f the latter does not meet tlie J'urcula. Marginal indentutio?is, two, 

 inclosed. 



This family, in mir siMttion, is representefl by a single genus. The manubrium is 

 (piite well developed, abruptly truncated, and not forked. The furcula is stout, mnclv 

 llattened by lateral expansion, wide and thick near the base which is not rounded but pro- 

 duced into a point. The terminal expansion is quite prominent and the furcula near it is 

 contracted and deeply furrowed above, and is bent downward to a point, closely approxi- 

 nuiting the top of the manubrium. The marginal indentations, although var}'ing in size 

 with age, are always inclosed. Bill, strong, well-curved, with the cutting edge of upper 

 mandible nearly straight. The tarsus is short, stout, and thickly feathered to the toes,- 

 whi(;h are stout, witli strong, well-curved claws. The wings are long and pointed. The 

 tail is moderately hmg, ami c-onsideva,bly rounded. 



