220 ROUGH-LEGGED FALCON. 



Labrador were greatly superior in point of colouring to those of the 

 same kind found breeding in our Middle States, and even as far north- 

 ward as Nova Scotia. 



I will conclude these introductory remarks by stating, that after 

 the moult of even an old bird of any species, the plumage for a while 

 at least will appear softer and more downy, though more perfect, than 

 at any other period, its coat as it were resembling broad cloth fresh 

 from the manufacturer, with the superfine nap of its surface downy and 

 glossy. 



I have in this plate represented an old male and a young bird shot 

 in November, to shew not only that the bird with dark plumage is spe- 

 cifically identical with that which is brown and variegated, but also 

 that our Rough-legged Falcon is the same as that of Europe. Since 

 the publication of my second volume, I have collected a great number 

 of specimens in America, of which there are not two that precisely 

 agree in the colours of their plumage, although in form and proportions 

 they are similar. I have also compared them with several Em"opean 

 specimens, and am quite satisfied as to the identity supposed by me to 

 exist between them. 



My friend Dr Townsekd has sent me the following note relative to 

 this species : — " Black Hawk, Falco lagopus. I found this bird breeding 

 on the banks of Bear River, west of the Rocky Mountains. Its nest 

 was placed in a willow ten feet from the ground, and formed of large 

 sticks. It contained two young almost fledged. The birds were in 

 the same plumage as that figured by you." It is greatly to be regretted, 

 however, that my friend did not say expressly whether one of them 

 was dark and the other light, as may however be inferred, if he al- 

 ludes to the present plate. This, however, were it so, would not be 

 more strange than in the case of Eagles, which are not unfrequently 

 found mated and breeding in very different states of plumage. 



M. Temminck says that this species frequents the north of Europe 

 in autumn and winter, and it is at times seen in Holland. My friend 

 Mr Yakkell states, that, " although it has now been killed once or 

 oftener in almost every county in England, it has rarely been known 

 to breed there, and is usually obtained in the spring or autumn, when 

 changing its latitude from south to north, or vice versa.'''' 



It has never been observed in our Atlantic Districts as fai' south as 

 Carolina ; but from Maryland to Nova Scotia it is by no means scarce 

 in the latter part of autumn and during winter. The old birds, how- 



