Pr ag 
Birds of Massachusetts. 79 
authority of Mr. Samuel Cabot, Jr., who obtained a 
single specimen in Cambridge. The circumstance 
that so little is known of this fine bird, after all the 
t researches of eminent ornithologists, shows what a 
broad field of the science is yet untrodden, and 
makes it a subject of congratulation, that so much 
-~ zeal and intelligence are now engaged in the study. 
The food of this hawk consists principally of birds ; 
which, of various sizes, from the ruffed grous to the 
sparrow, are laid under contribution. In the south- 
ern states, they are said, like the preceding species, 
to be troublesome in consequence of their depreda- 
) tions upon the poultry. 
The Rovcn-LEccEp Farcow, Falco lagopus, and 
F'alco Sancti Johannis, were supposed to be two dis- 
tinct species, till Audubon showed that these, and 
at me ages ; a mistake easily made, oro of 
g] bon received : i 
sat perched on stakes and trees, or flew about pur- 
suing their prey ; but. the dark colored birds were 
— . much more shy than the light ones, a difference 
| kc which he ascribed to their greater age. Falco niger, 
| in his opinion, is ‘the old rough-legged falcon. 
These birds are found in the neighborhood of 
swamps and marshes, where they watch for moles, 
mice and frogs, and occasionally encounter a wound- 
ed bird. heir appearance is heavy and inanimate, 
suiting well with the dreary places where they 
Re i 
d Their. RE T alike, and all their attitudes, as me T 
Falco niger of Wilson, were names of the same bird — 
