Birds of Oregon and Washington 187 



the male, and of grayish-brown upon the breast of the 

 female. 



But this Hawk inclines to melanism, as it is 

 called in ornithology — that is, to a decidedly 

 dark coloring. Specimens of both sexes are 

 found of a uniform sooty-brown. The upper 

 tail-coverts are barred with white. This Hawk 

 must not be confused with the Marsh-Hawk, 

 which can be recognized even at a great dis- 

 tance by a conspicuous white rump. The white 

 forehead marks the Swain son's Hawk. 



Probably altogether harmless in respect to 

 poultry. Its principal food in the proper season 

 is grasshoppers. 



THE AMERICAN ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. 



Length, 22 inches. 

 In eastern Oregon, and no doubt in eastern 

 Washington as well, two Hawks are numerous 

 which are rare in the western parts of our States. 

 They have a common and distinguishing mark, 

 indicated in their name, "Rough-legged"; that 

 is, the feathers extend down the leg, nearly to the 

 ends of the toes of the front part of the foot. 

 The American Rough-legged Hawk is so vari- 



