BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 1938 
The dark, cloudy days of early spring and late autumn are 
those in which to keep a good lookout for the Rough-legged 
Hawk. He then flies low and always slowly, especially during 
the day, and more commonly over swampy meadows in search 
of his inglorious prey of frogs, mice, lizzards, snakes and 
large insects, with an eye out for some unfortunate bird but 
half killed by the hunter. They frequently extend their 
search for food late into the twilight, which in our high lati- 
tude is late indeed, manifesting an owl-like nature which is 
further intimated by the full, soft plumage embracing the 
legs, feathered to the toes in front. A favorite place for them 
is located half a mile from my summer cottage at Lake Minne- 
netonka, a spot I have habitually visited at both the seasons 
when this species is still here and which consists of a morass 
that was at no ancient period an arm or bay of the lake, when 
it sustained a somewhat higher surface than now and in which 
are denizened representatives of nearly all kinds of supplies 
for them. They come to the marsh so quietly that except the 
eye is kept on the field, they may have drifted slowly its 
whole length and be vanishing through an opening in the 
woods which leads to another swale or slough, when first 
discovered, but if a little patience is exercised, they will 
return to traverse the marsh again, when possibly a better 
opportunity is enjoyed for observing them. Perchance, in- 
deed probably, he will alight on a muskrat house in the middle 
or on a dry limb overhanging the water, where he will remain 
almost motionless for an hour at a time if unmolested. When 
surprised suddenly they have a habit of screaming in a most 
unmusical fashion as they sail heavily away into the forest for, 
safety. I hear from an amateur ornithologist residing at a 
little distance from Red Lake Falls, Mr. L. Bothman, that a 
nest of this species had been found near there, but with 
neither bird nor eggs to settle the identification. I do not feel 
justified in fully accepting the statement. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Head above yellowish-white, with longitudinal stripes of 
brown tinged with reddish, especially on the occiput; back, 
scapulars and shorter quills pale-cinereous, with partially con- 
cealed transverse bands of white and dark-brown, the latter 
frequently predominating and giving the color on the back; 
rump dark umber-brown; longer quills and wing coverts dark 
umber-brown; primaries edged externally with ashy, and with 
a large space on their inner webs at the base, white with a 
silky lustre; under parts white; throat with longitudinal 
