318 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. 



* 



pleasantest season of our New England climate has past; when the brown, frost-bitten land 

 and darkening sea looks dreary and cold in the early light of morning, it is not uncommon 

 to see a large Hawk perched on the topmost limb of some solitary tree that overlooks a 

 wide extent of country. The bird looks sluggish and half-frozen but if one attempts to 

 approach too near, it launches downward and flies heavily to some distant tree, disclosing 

 as it goes, the white on the under portion of the wings, by which even the amateur will 

 not fail to recognize the Rough-legged Hawk. These birds frequent the shores almost con- 

 stantly during autumn and winter, feeding upon fish and other dead animals which are cast 

 up by the sea, or they will occasionally catch a mouse, suspending themselves over it, after 

 the manner of the Sparrow Hawk, before pouncing upon it. The flight of these Hawks is 

 quite heavy and they seldom circle about high in air, but when hunting, fly along about 

 twenty feet above the ground. 



As intimated, the Rough-legged Hawks are quite sluggish in habit and may oftener 

 be seen sitting than flying, yet they appear to fare well in spite of their indolence, for I do 

 not remember handling one that was not in good condition; in fact, they are usually very 

 fat. Although quite powerful birds, they are very gentle in captivity when treated well. 

 Almost all Hawks become tame if captured when young, though they are seldom gentle 

 when taken after they become fully grown, but the Rough-legged readily become familiar 

 and make excellent pets. 



As related, these Hawks prefer the sea-shore to the interior and are found along the 

 entire New England coast during winter, but they are particularly abundant in New Jer- 

 sey and I have seen several in sight at one time. Like most migrants, they make their 

 appearance quite suddenly, remain through the cold weather, then depart as they come, 

 without warning. According to authors, they breed in the far north, placing their nests 

 in trees or on rocky cliffs. 



FAMILY V. AQUILID^. THE TRUE EAGLES. 



The sternum is long, exceeding its width, wide, about equaling the length of the coracoids, 

 but the scapular process of the latter does not meet thefurcula. Marginal indentations, two, 

 inclosed. 



This family, in our section, is represented by a single genus. The manubrium is 

 quite well developed, abruptly truncated, and not forked. The furcula is stout, much 

 flattened by lateral expansion, wide and thick near the base which is not rounded but pro- 

 duced into a point. The terminal expansion is quite prominent and-the furcula near it is 

 contracted and deeply furrowed above, and is bent downward to a point, closely approxi- 

 mating the top of the manubrium. The marginal indentations, although varying in size 

 with age, are always inclosed. Bill, strong, well-curved, with the cutting edge of upper 

 mandible nearly straight. The tarsus is short, stout, and thickly feathered to the toes, 

 which are stout, with strong, well-curved claws. The wings are long and pointed. The 

 tail is moderately long, and considerably rounded. 



