THE ROUGH-LEGGED FALCON. 



47 



feathers of the mngs are nearly black. The under poi-tions of the body are giviy-white, marked 

 on the neck, and chest, and abdomen, v/ith spots and streaks of brown. The claws are black, 

 the bill is a deep blue-black, and the legs, toes, and ears are yellow. 



The British Islands possess another species of Buzzard, closely allied to the bird which 

 has just been described. This is the Rough-legged Falcon, so called from the manner in 

 which its legs are covered with feathers as far as the margin of the toes. 



EOUGH-LEGGED Jj'ALCOJS— jlriyuoateo lagopua. 



The Rough -legged Hawk (ArcMhuteo lagopus), called also Buzzard and Falcon, is repre- 

 sented by several varieties. A very dark one is called Black Hawk. This bird is regarded as 

 identical with the European Rough -leg. It inhabits the whole of North America as well as 

 the Old World, and breeds far in the North. Its habits are more nocturnal than other 

 Hawks. 



• Though large and imposing, this bird feeds on mice and small reptiles. It has none of 

 the noble attitudes common to the Falcons. The editor of this edition of The Living World, 

 has seen it in flocks of ten to twenty, fluttering like butterflies over a meadow, watching for 

 small reptiles. These were the lighter varieties, which were readily recognized by the dark 

 baud over the breast, Avhich is conspicuously contrasted with whitish below. 



It is rather a larger bird than the common Buzzard, and the coloring of the feathers is 

 rather different. The beak and upper surface is like that of the Buzzard, but the head and 

 upper part of the neck are of a pale yellow hue, each feather having a streak of the darker 

 color dowii its centre. The chin, throat and breast are of a rusty fawn, and the abdomen 

 nearly of the same tint as the back. The whole of the plumy legs is light fawn, spotted 



