12 FIEL® KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS. 
gray above; underparts whitish. Female and young 
very different from the male, being dark reddish or 
yellowish brown all over, except the tail coverts, 
which are conspicuously white in both sexes, a mark 
distinguishing this from all other hawks. This is the 
commonest hawk, and is often seen flying low over the 
meadows, hunting for frogs and mice. He keeps to 
the same district all summer, goes South in winter, 
and often returns to the same place the next year, 
building his new nest on the top of those of previous 
years. Though large, he is weak, and shakily built, 
and even small birds have no respect for him. 
‘1%. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. Archibuteo 
lagopus Sancti Johannis.— Length, 22 inches. Brown ; 
face and upper part of tail feathers whitish, but very 
variable, being sometimes entirely black. He may, 
however, always be recognized by his feathered legs. 
Though a large, strong bird he preys almost entirely 
on mice and reptiles. A Northern hawk, sometimes 
found here in winter. 
18. OSPREY, OR FISH-HAWK. Pandion 
haliaetus carolinensis. — Length, 23 inches. Black 
above and white below. The Fish-hawk is easily 
recognized by his long wings and heavy flight. It is 
interesting to watch him as he hovers over rivers and 
ponds in search of fish. He sails perhaps two or 
three hundred feet above the water, and when he sees 
a fish near the surface suddenly stops, apparently 
fastened in the sky, making no visible motions. After 
a few moments he drops like a shot for about fifty 
feet, and poises nailed in the sky as motionless as 
before. He repeats this process until he is about 
twenty-five feet from the water, and there he stays 
until the fish offers him a good chance. Then, quick 
as lightning, he dives entirely below the surface, and 
shortly after emerges with the fish in his talons. He 
then shakes off the water, and flies in his heavy way 
to some favorite tree, where he can devour his prey. 
This is a summer bird, wandering South in winter. 
