Archibuteo Lagopus var. Sancti-Johannis (Giu. ) Ridg. 



ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD ; BLACK HAWK. 



PLATES XIV & XV. 



" The question, long agitated, of the relationship of our ' Black' 

 and ' Rough-legged' Hawks may be considered settled in favor of 

 their specific identity, the Black Hawk being simply the melanotic 

 condition of the Rough-legged. There is nothing either peculiar 

 or remarkable in this, melanism being an affection common to 

 many or most Hawks, independent of age, sex, season, or locality, 

 and analogous to the rusty-red plumage of Owls." 



This quotation from a recent work of Dr. Coues will suffice, 

 in introducing the Plates of this much talked-and-written-of Buz- 

 zard, in two of its stages of plumage. These two, as may be seen 

 at a glance, are very different, and it is no wonder that they have 

 until quite recently been regarded as belonging to closely allied 

 specifically distinct birds. Now, however, (1876) our leading 

 ornithologists seem agreed on this vexed question. Baird and 

 Ridgway, after long and patient research, end the controversy 

 by stating — " The Rough-legged Hawk of North America and 

 the Black Hawk are the same species, A. sancti-johannis. This 

 species or race, however, is not the same as that of Europe. (See 

 Hist. N. Am. Birds, HI., pp. 304-306.)""" I am of the opinion, 

 however, that the Black Hawk is the adult bird. The typical 

 lagopus belongs to Europe ; the variety sancti-johannis to north- 

 erly North America ; while the melanotic or dark condition or 

 stage is chiefly observed in the middle Atlantic States, New 

 England, and some parts of Canada. 



The Rough-legged Buzzard in one or other of its forms, is 

 frequently met with in Canada, and in our various expeditions we 

 have collected upwards of thirty specimens. These vary greatly, 

 and were I to write a monograph of this species, fifteen Plates 



* Letters from Boird to author, dated March nth, 1876. 



