HAWKS OF THE CANADIAN PRAIRIE PROVINCES. 9 



with a brown barred tail, and a decided band of brown across the breast 

 which may have a reddish or even a purplish cast. 



The two Rough-legs, sometimes called "Chap" Hawks, are distin- 

 guished from all other Canadian hawks by having the legs feathered 

 down to the base of the toes (Figure 3). They are the largest, at least 

 in appearance, of our real hawks, though an examination will show that 

 they have comparatively small and weak feet incapable of holding prey 

 of any strength or size. There are no data available indicating that 

 they ever take birds at all and they seem to confine their attention 

 almost exclusively to the smaller animals and reptiles. The Ferruginous 

 Rough-leg (length 22-24| inches) is a common breeder in the southern 

 parts of the western prairie provinces. In characteristic light plumage 

 it shows a mixture of reddish and brown above with tail white at base 



Figure 4. Narrow bill of American Rough-leg. 



Figure 5. Wide bill of Ferruginous Rough-leg. 



reddening toward the tip : it is pure white below with slight dark marking 

 on flanks; the thighs are closely though finely barred with reddish brown. 

 The American Rough-leg breeds in the far north, appearing in the 

 settled parts of. Canada only as a migrant. It is a slightly less powerful 

 bird than the Ferruginous Rough-leg and, coming on the prairies after 

 the gophers have holed up for the winter and before they come out in 

 the spring, is of less economic importance. It confines itself to mice and 

 such small vermin, and, therefore, is decidedly useful. 



The American Rough-leg (length 20-22 inches) in its most character- 

 istic light plumage is brown above, more or less mixed with lighter tints, 



