382 LAND-BIRDS. 



says : " Mr. Mcllwraith, of Hamilton, Canada, has noted ex- 

 tensive migrations of this Hawk in March of different years, 

 as many as twenty or thirty being in view at one time, passing 

 at a considerable height, and moving in circles towards the 

 northwest." These Buzzards, though readily distinguished by 

 size from the " Hen Hawks," do not differ much in habits. 

 In common with those birds, they are often teased by King- 

 birds and Crows ; but on such occasions they show a quiet 

 dignity and unconcern, which is very striking. 



d. The Broad- winged Hawks have a loud, whining whistle, 

 not unlike the familiar cries of the " Hen Hawks." These 

 may most often be heard in spring. 



VI. ARCHIBUTEO. 



A. LAGOPUS SANCTI-JOHANNIS. Rough-legged Hawk (or 

 Buzzard). Black Hawk. In Massachusetts, a winter visitor 

 of great rarity.* 



a. Tarsus feathered to the toes. Extreme length, about 

 two feet. Above, marked with various browns and white (or 

 yellowish). Tail, black banded, but with the basal half white 

 and unmarked. Under parts, white, variously marked with 

 brown, which generally forms a broad band across the lower 

 breast. There is a so-called melanotic race, with the plumage 

 nearly uniform black or blackish, but with the forehead, 

 (throat), and more or less banding on the tail, white. This is 

 the Black Hawk, supposed by some writers to be the adult of 

 the other. 



b. The eggs, as described by other authors, do not appar- 

 ently differ from certain forms among those of the "Hen 

 Hawks." SeeV, B, b. 



c. The Eough-legged Buzzards occur in New England as 



* An early spring and late autumn ten or fifteen years the birds used to 



migrant ; occasionally seen in midwin- occur commonly about Boston, and so 



ter also, but everywhere rare at this very numerously at Northampton that 



season excepting, perhaps, in portions I have known upward of twenty to be 



of Connecticut. Its principal paths killed there by a single collector in one 



of migration through Massachusetts day.v Within the past decade I have 



are along the coast and the valley of seen very few in any part of New Eng- 



the Connecticut River. Up to within land. W. B. 



