THE AMERICAN ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. 257 



In the United States it is only met with as ;i migrant, Mi-riving reg- 

 ularly from its breeding grounds in the fur north in the fall and returning 

 early in the spring. It winters chiefly in the middle and more open prairie- 

 States, not being partial to heavily timbered regions. In the East it is gen- 

 erally found along the flat, open country adjacent to the coast and the larger 

 rivers, avoiding the mountainous and heavily wooded districts of the interior. 



Although a large and powerful bird, it is of a peaceful disposition, and its 

 food is humble, consisting principally of meadow mice and small rodents. It is 

 doubtful if it ever catches a bird, its flight usually being slow, deliberate, and 

 apparently laborious. 



I found this species very abundant during the fall on the Umatilla Indian 

 Reservation, and in the Harney Valley, Oregon, where they principally feed 

 on small rodents and grasshoppers and occasionally on rabbits. I have, often 

 seen a dozen or two in a few hours' ride, usually standing singly on a little 

 hillock on the open prairie, or perched upon a sage bush watching for prev. 

 They are a perfectly harmless bird and deserve to be fully protected. When 

 mounted they allowed me to approach closely, but when on foot they kept 

 well out of range. 



Mr. L. M. Turner, in his "Notes on the Birds of Labrador and Ungava," 

 says: "The American Rough-legged Hawks arrive here, at Fort Chimo, about 

 the last week in May and remain until the first week in October. Imme- 

 diately on their arrival a site is secured for a nest, as mating has evi- 

 dently occurred before they appear in this vicinity. Oftentimes the same 

 place is resorted to, where the same pair have reared their young for many 

 seasons. All the nests discovered by me were placed on a ledge or projec- 

 tion of a high bluff. Should there be several ledges, apparently suitable 

 in all respects on the same bluff, the one nearest the top is selected. I sur- 

 mise this is done in order to allow the birds a greater view of the surround- 

 ing country for the purposes of searching for food and to avoid danger. 



"The nest is composed of sticks of various sizes, together with a few 

 grass or weed stalks placed irregularly crosswise. The particular location of 

 the nest modifies the amount of material used. A flat rock usually has but 

 sufficient of these materials to prevent the eggs from rolling about. Where 

 the place slopes the nest is usually higher in front, and often with nothing 

 at the rear portion of it except the side of the cliff. In locations where the 

 nest has been used for several years the amount of material accumulated is 

 astonishing. I have seen several nests which would form a good load for a 

 wheelbarrow. It often occurs that the nest material is increased considerably 

 each year, and other nests appear to have been only rearranged. The 

 depression containing the eggs is quite shallow and in some instances nearly 

 Hat. The accumulations around the nest, such as refuse food, is also sur- 

 prising in quantity, and when this decomposes forms a soil in which grow 

 grasses and other plants, which, from the character of the soil and favorable 

 position (rarely to the northward), often attain a most luxurious growth and 

 26957 Bull. 1 17 



