The American Rough-leg 



Recognition Marks. — Brant size; feathered tarsi distinctive; best recognized 

 in the field by its, usually, dark coloration and heavy flight; basal white of tail also 

 distinctive if properly discriminated from that of the upper tail-coverts of the Marsh 

 Hawk; black or brownish and white in large masses on under surface of wing. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: A bulky affair placed high in 

 trees or on ledges of rock; of sticks, fairly well lined with bark-strips, leaves, and soft 

 materials. Eggs: 2 or 3, sometimes 4 or 5; quite variable in size, shape, and pig- 

 mentation; bluish white or dull white, sometimes unmarked, but oftener spotted, 

 blotched, or streaked with reddish brown or chocolate, and with more or less under- 

 shell marking of vinaceous gray. Av. size 56.5 x 45 (2.22 x 1.77). 



Range of Buleo lagopus. — Northern portion of Northern Hemisphere, south in 

 winter to southern United States, southern Europe, and Japan. 



Range of B. I. sanctijohannis. — Breeds in Alaska and the northern Canadian 

 Provinces; winters from the northern boundary of the United States (or from Colorado 

 or the Plains region) south to central California and the Gulf States. 



Distribution in California. — Of rare occurrence in winter south at least to 

 Santa Clara and Fresno. Has been much confused with succeeding form and trust- 

 worthy records are few. 



Authorities. — Gambel (Bntaetes sanctijohannis), Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 

 iii., 1846, p. 45 (upper Calif., winter); Tyler, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 9, 1913, p. 43 

 (San Joaquin Valley; habits) ; Grinnell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 11, 1915, p. 66 (status 

 in Calif.). 



A LARGE, dark-colored bird, "bigger than a Hawk and not as big 

 as an Eagle," seen in winter flying heavily to and fro across the meadows 

 at a Ioav height, or perching for considerable stretches of time on pasture 

 boulders, fence-posts, or low stubs, commanding open situations, may 

 safely be put down in the note-book as an American Rough-legged Buz- 

 zard. If seen in air, the bird may remind one of a Turkey Vulture out 

 of season, but a second glance will take account of its fan-shaped tail, 

 its shorter wings, and rather more rapid movement. The species is 

 largely crepuscular, almost nocturnal, in habit, and is to be looked for 

 on dark days rather than bright ones. Its food consists almost exclu- 

 sively of field mice and other small rodents, although an occasional rabbit 

 may vary its fare. 



As might be inferred from the humble nature of its quarry, the Rough- 

 leg is a peaceable bird, rather sluggish in movement, and, except where per- 

 secuted, quite unsuspicious of man. While hopelessly "ignoble" from the 

 Falconer's standpoint, the bird has a fine presence and a bright eye; and it 

 would seem to deserve the name "gentle," rather better than does the rapa- 

 cious Peregrine. Its occasional presence with us in winter is entirely bene- 

 ficial, and the bird should be carefully protected. 



Evidently considerable confusion has always existed as between this 

 and the succeeding species, B. ferrugineus. The latter is typically white 

 below, but is not infrequently melanistic, and I believe that dark speci- 



1697 



