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genera. The species is considered as somewhat difficult to identify in its 
various states of plumage, as it is variable in both coloring and size. Males 
are found eighteen inches only in length, while females sometimes reach 
that of twenty-four inches. The adult bird is easily distinguished by the 
bright rufous wing-coverts, and rather paler color of the breast; the upper 
parts brown, mixed with rufous; tail brownish, with five transverse bands 
of white, and tipped with white. The young want the rufous character- 
istics, and have the under parts of a yellowish white, with stripes and ob- 
long spots of brown; the tail is numerously barred. 
Being very abundant throughout the State, the habits of this species 
may be studied with great ease. The young can generally be found in the 
nest by the middle of April, or even earlier. 
Genus ArcurpurEo—(Brehin, bis 1828.) 
Character similar to those of the preceding genus; but with the tarsi 
feathered to the base of the toes, but more or less naked on the hind part. 
Toes short; claws moderate; wings rather long. Species of this genus 
are found in both the eastern and western hemispheres; A. Jagopus being 
considered common to both. Three species inhabit the United States. 
TI. ARCHIBUTEO SANCTI-JOHANNIS—Q@melin—THE BuAck HAWK. 
THe ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD. 
Wilson’s Am. Orn., VIL. pl. 53, figs. 1, 2; Audubon’s Birds of Am., 
oct. ed., I, pl. 11; Richardson’s Fauna Boreali-Americana, Birds, pl. 28. 
Many naturalists consider this species identical with A. lagopus, of Eu. 
rope, while others look upon them as quite distinct. Cassin says that spe- 
cimens of what has been considered the young bird, agree in all respects 
with individuals from Europe, and that it is impossible to distinguish any 
difference. As both species—if there are two of them—are indigenous to 
this continent, and breed in the fur countries of the north, coming south at 
the approach of winter, and leaving us in March or April for their breed- 
ing places, it is rather difficult to decide, unless living birds of the light- 
colored plumage are obtained, and kept in confinement until it becomes 
apparent, after several moultings, to which species they belong. Wilson 
regarded the species as distinct; but Audubon was of a different opinion. 
The black hawk cannot be regarded as injurious to the interests of man, 
as he feeds on frogs, lizzards, meadow-mice, moles, &c., occasionally captur- 
