180 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



topmost branches of a cottonwood was not a very substantial structure ; 

 a shallow platform composed principally of small cottonwood twigs, a 

 number of them broken oflF green by the birds themselves. The birds 

 were seen, while flying, to grasp at a suitable twig with the talons, 

 usually succeeding in breaking it off at the first trial. The nest was 

 lined with dry cottonwood leaves and the tops of the willows, the latter 

 taken while yet green. 



Captain Bendire describes the eggs as white or pale bluish-white, 

 unspotted, but always more or less stained with yellowish matter hard 

 to clean off; size 2.00x1.60.* A set of two eggs, taken in Arizona, 

 May 23, 1884, by Mr. F. Stephens, is in the collection of Captain B. F. 

 Goss. The nest from which these were taken was in a cottonwood 

 tree, seventy-five feet from the ground ; it was made of cottonwood 

 and willow twigs, mostly green, lined with small twigs and green 

 leaves. The eggs are white, with a few indistinct buffy-brown spots, 

 sizes 1.96x1.54, 1.96x1.58. 



[347.] ArcMbuteo lagopus. (Brunn.). 



Rough-legged Ha'wk. 



Hab. Northern portions of the old world; Alaska. 



The European Rough-legged Buzzard very much resembles our 

 American bird, sancti-johannis. In Europe it is said to be sparingly dis- 

 tributed over the northern parts, appearing occasionally in Northern 

 Britain, and with regularity in the more southern portions. It is known 

 to breed in the rugged mountain regions of Switzerland and various 

 parts of France and Italy, placing the bulky nest of sticks in lofty 

 trees or on precipitous rocks. The eggs, two to four in number, vary 

 from dirty-white to grayish or cream-color, usually marked with num- 

 erous spots and blotches of umber and sepia-brown, and sometimes 

 entirely unmarked ; average size 2.20x1.80. 



347a. ArcMbuteo lagopus sancti-joliannis (Gmel.). [447.] 



American Rough-legged Ha-wk. 



Hab. Whole of North America, north of Mexican boundary breeding chiefly north of the United 

 States. 



The plumage of the " Black Hawk," as it is called, is subject to 

 great variations. In general, the whole plumage is dark brown or 

 blackish and light brown, gray or whitish. From these variegated 

 stages the bird varies to more or less uniform blackish ; but in either 

 plumage it is easily recognized by the feathered shank. The Rough- 

 legged Buzzard frequents swamps, marshes and the vicinity of lakes 

 and rivers. It appears to be more numerous near the coast than in the 

 interior east of the Mississippi. It is less active than most Hawks, 



♦Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. VI, pp. S7-88. 



