59 



ROUGH-LEGGED FALCON. 

 FALCO LAGOPUS, 

 [Plate XXXIIL-^Fig. 1.] 



JrcL ZooL p. 200, JVo. 92.— Latham, I, 75. — Peale's Museum, No. 116. 



THIS handsome species, notwithstanding its formidable size 

 and appearance, spends the chief part of the winter among our low 

 swamps and meadows, watching for mice, frogs, lame ducks, and 

 other inglorious game. Twenty or thirty individuals of this family 

 have regularly taken up their winter quarters, for several years past, 

 and probably long anterior to that date, in the meadows below this 

 city, between the rivers Delaware and Schuylkill, where they spend 

 their time watching along the dry banks like cats ; or sailing low 

 and slowly over the surface of the ditches. Tho rendered shy 

 from the many attempts made to shoot them, they seldom fly far, 

 usually from one tree to another at no great distance, making a 

 loud squeeling as they arise, something resembling the neighing 

 of a young colt ; tho in a more shrill and savage tone. 



The bird represented in the plate was one of this fraternity, 

 and several others of the same association have been obtained and 

 examined during the present winter. On comparing these with 

 Pennant's description, referred to above, they corresponded so ex- 

 actly that no doubts remain of their being the same species. To- 

 wards the beginning of April these birds abandon this part of the 

 country and retire to the north to breed. 



They are common during winter in the low er parts of Mary- 

 land, and numerous in the extensive meadows below Newark, New 

 Jersey; are frequent along the Connecticut river, and according to 

 Pennant, inhabit England, Norway and Lapmark. Their flight is 



