SPECIES 13. FALCO LAGOPUS* 



ROUGH-LEGGED FALCON. 



[Plate XXXIII. Fig. 1.] 



drct. Zuul. p. 200, JVb. 92. LATHAM, i, 75. PEALE'S Museum, 



J\"o. 116. 



THIS handsome species, notwithstanding its formidable size 

 and appearance, spends the chief part of the winter among our 

 low swamps and meadows, watching for mice, frogs, lame 

 ducks, and other inglorious game. Twenty or thirty individu- 

 als of this family have regularly taken up their winter quar- 

 ters, for several years past, and probably long anterior to that 

 date, in the meadows below this city, between the rivers Dela- 

 ware and Schuylkill, where they spend their time watching 

 along the dry banks like cats; or sailing low and slowly over 

 the surface of the ditches. Though rendered' shy from the 

 many attempts made to shoot them, they seldom fly far, usual- 

 ly from one tree to another, at no great distance, making a loud 

 squeeling as they arise, something resembling the neighing of 

 a young colt; though in a more shrill and savage tone. 



The bird represented in the plate was one of this fraternity; 

 and several others of the same association have been obtained 

 and examined during the present winter. On comparing these 

 with Pennant's description, referred to above, they correspond 

 so exactly, that no doubts remain of their being the same spe- 

 cies. Towards the beginning of April, these birds abandon 

 this part of the country, and retire to the north to breed. 



They are common during winter in the lower parts of Mary- 

 land, and numerous in the extensive meadows below Newark, 



* We add the following synonymes: LATH. Ind. Orn. p. 19. GM.EL. Syst, i r 

 p. 260. TEMM. Man. d'Orn. r, p. 65. 



