256 LIFE HISTOEIES OF NOKTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



There seems to be no difference whatever in the eggs of this species 

 and our own, and none are figured for that reason. Ten eggs in the U. S. ■ 

 National Museum collection from Lapland average 57 by 44.,5 millimetres, 

 the largest measuring 60 by 46, the smallest 53 by 43.5 millimetres. 



87. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis (Gmelin). 



AMERICAN EOUGH-LEGGED HAWK. 



Falco sancti-johannis Gmelin, Systema Naturae, i, ii, 1788, 273. 



Archibuteo lagopus var. sancti-johannis Ridgway, in Coues's Key to North American 

 Birds, 1872, 218. 



(B 30, 31, C 356, R 447, C 525, U 347a,.) 



Geographical range : Whole of North America. 



Excepting the Territory of Alaska, the American Rough-legged Hawk 

 does not breed within the United States, the various records to the contrary 

 notwithstanding. Not a single one of these is absolutely unquestionable. Its 

 most southern breeding range, so far as I am able to learn, is perhaps that 

 given by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, based upon the observations of Mr. Napoleon 

 A. Comeau, made in the vicinity of Point de Monts, province of Quebec, 

 Canada, in about latitude 49°, who states that it is rather common, and 

 breeds there. ^ It is questionable if it breeds anywhere south of the river 

 St. Lawrence, and if it does such instances must be of rare occurrence. 



Mr. L. M. Turner, of the U. S. Signal Service, found it breeding abun- 

 dantly in southern Labrador and at Fort Chimo, Ungava Bay, while stationed 

 at the latter point, and he considers it one of the most common of all the 

 birds of prey in that region. 



In the interior it is said to be not uncommon, and to have been found 

 breeding on the Saskatchewan plains, in the similarly named district, about 

 latitude 53°. It is most common, however, from the Anderson River and 

 Rendezvous Lake country up to the Arctic coast, where that indefatigable 

 naturalist and explorer, Mr. R. MacFarlane, of the Hudson Bay Company, 

 took not less than fifty-eight nests with eggs while traveling through this 

 scarcely known and ice-bound wilderness nearly thirty years ago. Quite a 

 fine series of the eggs of this species collected by this gentleman are in the 

 U. S. National Museum collection. 



On the west coast it is not uncommon during the breeding season in 

 the vicinity of Fort Yukon, Alaska, as sevei'al sets of eggs taken there attest. 

 Mr. E. W. Nelson, of the U. S. Signal Service, took their eggs at Saiiit Michael; 

 and Mr. C. L. MacKay on the Nushagak River, Alaska; but it appears to 

 be rarer near the coast there than in the interior. It probably breeds in the 

 northern portions of British Columbia as well, but I find no reliable records 

 from there. 



' Bulletin Nuttall, Oruithological Cliib, Vol. vii, 1882, p. 237. 



