52 Synopsis of the Birds 



ferent from the adults. By their large head, heavy body, 

 humble flight, and inferior boldness, they in a slight degree 

 resemble Owls. Feed on young rabbits, mice, rats, reptiles, 

 insects, and small birds, which they watch for from their 

 perch, as they cannot successfully chase them on the wing, 

 j- Tarsi feathered to the toes. 



13. Falco lagopus, L. Varied with pale ochre and blackish ; 

 a blackish belt on the belly ; tail white, black towards the 

 tip, at tip pure white. 



Bough-legged Falcon, Falco lagopus, Wils. Am. Orn. iv\ 

 p. 59- pi. 33. fig. I. 



Inhabits the northern parts of both continents : in Penn- 

 sylvania only during winter. 



19. Falco sancti-johannis, Gm. Black ; white round the* 

 eye ; tail rounded, with narrow bands of pure white, and 

 tipped with dull white. 



Young varied with white, brown, and ferruginous. 



Black Haivk, Falco niger, (Falco sancti-johannis ? in Mr. 

 Ord's reprint) Wils. Am. Orn. vi. p. 82.pl. 53. fig. l. adult. 

 Id. variety vi. p. 34. pi. 55. jig. 2. young. 



Inhabits North America : winters in Pennsylvania, rare, 

 f f Tarsi partly feathered. 



20. Falco uorealis. Gm. (2.) Dusky ; beneath whitish, with 

 blackish hastate spots. 



Adult, tail ferruginous, with a black subterminal band. 



Young, tail dusky, with several narrow blackish bands. 



Red-tailed Hawk, Falco borealis, Wils. Am. Orn. vi.p. 75. 

 pi. 52. fig. 1. adult ; and American Buzzard, or White-breasted 

 Hawk, Falco leverianus, vi. p. 78. pi. 52. fig. 2. young. 



Inhabits throughout North America ; common ; resident. 



SUBGENUS IX. CIRCUS. 



Circus, Bechst. Lacepedc. Vieill. Busards, Temm. 



Bill much compressed, terminating in a long and acute 



