469 



Genus ARCHIBUTEO. 



Accipiter apud Brisson, Orn. i. p. 325 (1760). 



Falco apud Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 260 (1788). 



Buteo apud Leach, Syst. Cat. M. & B. Brit. Mus. p. 10 (1816). 



Archibuteo, C. L. Brehm, Isis, 1828, p. 1269. 



Triorchis apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 84 (1829). 



Butaetes apud Lesson, Traite d'Orn. p. 83 (1831). 



This genus, which contains four species, only one of which is found in the Western Paleearctic 

 Region, is represented in the Paleearctic and Nearctic Regions, ranging as far south in the Old 

 World as the Ethiopian Region, and in the New World down into Mexico. 



In general habits the Rough-legged Buzzards very closely resemble the species belonging to 

 the genus Buteo ; but, as a rule, they appear to be less partial to forests and groves. During 

 the day they hunt after their prey in the open country, retiring to the outskirts of some wood to 

 roost for the night. They feed on small mammals, frogs, lizards, and insects, and only occa- 

 sionally on birds, which they do not capture on the wing. Their call-note resembles that of 

 the Buzzards. 



They nest in cliffs and trees, constructing a somewhat bulky nest of twigs and branches 

 lined with grass, and deposit from two to four, rarely five, bluish-white eggs, resembling those of 

 the Buzzards, but subject, if any thing, to greater variations. 



Archibuteo lagopus, the type of the genus, has the beak as in Buteo, the wings long, broad, 

 the first quill short, being about equal to the eighth, the second slightly longer than the sixth, 

 the third, fourth, and fifth about equal, the first four quills deeply notched on the inner web ; 

 tail moderate, even or very slightly rounded ; tarsus closely feathered down to the toes, which 

 are short, but strong ; claws stout, acute, curved. 



114 



