54 ROUGH-LEGGED FALCON. 



ROUGH-LEGGED FALCON. (Falco lagopus.) 



PLATE XXXIII.— Fig. 1. 



Arct. Zool. p. 200, No. 92.— Lath. i. 75.— Prate's Museum, No. 116. 

 BUTEO LAGOPUS.— Bechstein? 



Rough-legged Falcon, Mont. Ornith. 'Diet. Supp. — Beiu. Br. Birds, Supp. — 

 Rough-legged Buzzard, Selby's Illust. Br. Ornith. i. p. 20. pi. 7. — Falco 

 lagopus, Temrn. Man. i. p. 65. — Bonap. Synop. p. 32. — Buteo lagopus, Flein. 

 Br. Anim. p. 54. — North. Zool. ii. p. 52. 



This handsome species, notwithstanding its formidable size 

 and appearance, spends the chief part of the winter among 



tarsi scutellated ; and Mr Swainson says, that the group seems natural, 

 differing somewhat in their manners from the larger falcons, and having 

 analogies in their habits to the shrikes. 



With both these we agree. It is long since we thought the general 

 form and habits of our common kestrel — analogous to Wilson's bird in 

 Europe — differed from those of the true falcons, as much, certainly, as 

 Astur does from Accipiter, and both should be only by subordinate divi- 

 sions. The manner of suspending itself in the air is exactly similar to 

 that of our windhover ; and I am not aware that this peculiar manner 

 of hunting is made use of by any other of the Falconidos, with the excep- 

 tion of the kestrels, that is, those of Europe or Africa, F. rupicola, tinun- 

 culoides, &c. The true falcons survey the ground by extensive sweeps, 

 or a rapid flight, and stoop at once on their prey with the velocity and 

 force of lightning; the others quietly watch their quarry when suspended 

 or perched on a bare eminence or tree in the manner described, and take 

 it by surprise. Insects, reptiles, and small animals form part of their 

 food ; and to the old falconists they were known by the name of 

 " Ignoble." The whole of the kestrels are very familiar, easily tamed, 

 and when in confinement become even playful. Their great breeding- 

 place is steep rocks, clothed with ivy, and fringed with the various wild 

 plants incident to the different climes ; in the chinks and hearts of these 

 they nestle, often in security from any clamberer that has not the assist- 

 ance of a rope ; though the appearance of a stranger immediately calls 

 forth peculiarly shrill and timid notes of alarm. When the young are 

 hatched, and partly advanced, they may be seen stretching out from their 

 hole, and, on the appearance of their parent, mutual greetings are heard, 

 and in a tone at once different from those before mentioned. Our native 

 species, in addition to rocks, delights in ruined buildings as a breeding- 

 place ; and it is remarkable, that perhaps more kestrels build and bring 



