72 
ROUGH-LEGGED 
FALCON. 
perceived unless the feathers be blown aside ; tail slightlj^ forked, and, 
as well as the rump, jet black ; legs vermilion, tinged with orange and 
becoming blackish towards the toes ; claws black ; iris of the eye dark 
red, pupil black. 
This was a male. With the female, which is expected soon from that 
country, I shall, in a future volume, communicate such further informa- 
tion- relative to their manners and incubation, as I may be able to 
collect. 
Species XIIL FALCO LAG OPUS* 
ROUGH-LEGGED FALCON. 
[Plate XXXIII. Fig. 1.] 
Ard. Zool. p. 200, No. 92.— Latham, i., 75. 
This handsome species, notwithstanding its formidable size and 
appearance, spends the chief part of tlie winter among our low swamps 
and meadows, Avatching 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, Avhere they spend their time watching along 
the dry banks like cats ; or sailing low and slowly over the surface of 
the ditches. Though 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 squealing as they arise, something resem- 
bling the neighing of a young colt ; though in a more shrill and savage 
tone. 
The bird represented in the plate Avas 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 descrip- 
tion, referred to above, they correspond so exactly, that no doubts 
remain of their being the same species. Towards 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 lower parts of Maryland, and 
numerous in the extensive meadows below Newark, New Jersey ; are 
*'We add the following synonymes : Lath. Lid. Oni. p. 19. — Gjiel. Si/st. i., p. 
2G0. — Temm. Man. d' Orn. i., p. 65. 
