206 



FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



labored, and when on the wing this Hawk resembles the Osprey more 

 than any other bird of prey. . . . 



" Of 49 stomachs examined, 40 contained mice ; 5, other mammals ; 

 1, lizards ; 1, insects ; and 4 were empty " (Fisher). 



348. Archibuteo fermginens (Licht.). Ferruginous Rough-leg. 



Ad.^ light 2^hase. — Upper parts mostly rufous, the centers of the feathers fus- 

 cous ; tail grayish white, margined with rufous ; legs rufous, barred with black ; 

 rest of under parts white, more or less barred with rufous on the sides and 

 belly; tarsi fully feathered in front. Im. — Upper parts dark grayish brown, 

 slightly varied with ochraceous-butf ; tail silvery grayish brown, without bars, 

 the base white ; under parts white, lightly spotted and streaked with fuscous. 

 Dark phase. — Dark fuscous-brown, more or less varied with rufous ; prima- 

 ries and tail as in the ad. L., 23-00 ; W., 17-00 ; T., 10-50. 



Jiemarhs. — This species is to be distinguished from the preceding prin- 

 cipally by its much larger bill and differently colored tail and under parts. 



Bange. — " Western United States ; east to and across tlie great plains (oc- 

 casionally to Illinois) ; north to tlie Saskatchewan ; south into Mexico " (Ben- 

 dire). 



Nest., in trees or on the ground in rock}^ places. J^ggs^ two to four, " white, 

 or buffy white, usually inore or less spotted, blotched, or clouded with brown 

 or grayish purple (or both), 2-42 x 1-88" (Kidgw.). 



This bird is rarely found east of the Mississippi. Dr. Fisher re- 

 marks : " The Squirrel Hawk is pre-eminently a bird of the prairie, 



and, unlike the common Rough-leg, 

 shows little partiality to the vicinity 

 of water, though in other respects it 

 closely resembles the latter bird in 

 habits." 



349. Aquilachr3rsaetos(Z?'n7^.). 



Golden Eagle. Ad. — Back of the head 

 and nape pale, buffy ochraceous; basal 

 two thirds of the tail white ; tarsus white, 

 entirely feathered ; rest of the plumage 

 fuscous - brown ; quills fuscous. Im. — 

 Similar, but base of the tail with broken 

 grayish bars ; tarsus and under tail- 

 coverts ochraceous- buff". $, L., 30-00- 

 35-00; Ex., 78-00-84-00; W., 23-00-24-70; T., 

 14-00-15-00; Tar., 3-65-3-80. 9 L., 35-00- 

 40-00 ; Ex., 84-00-90-00 ; W.^ 25-00-27-00 ; 

 T., 15-00-16-00; Tar., 4-15-4-25 (Kidgw.). 



Range. — North America ; of rare occurrence east of the Mississippi. 



Washington, rare W. V. Sing Sing, A. V. 



Nest.^ on cliffs or rocky ledges. Eggs^ two to three, dull white, obscurely 

 or distinctly blotched or speckled with shades of cinnamon-brown, 2-93 x 2-34. 



Fig. 71.— Foot of Golden Eagle. 



