48 
ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD. 
legs, and habits, this bird bears some resemblance to the Owls. It flies 
slowly, sits for a long time on the bough of a tree watching for mice, frogs, 
&c., and is often seen skimming over swampy pieces of ground, and hunting 
for its prey by the subdued daylight, which illuminates even the midnight 
hours in the high parallels of latitude.” 
Nothing is known respecting their propagation in the United States, and 
I must pass over this subject. They leave us in the beginning of March, 
and betake themselves to more northern countries ; yet not one did either 
myself, or my youthful and enterprising party, observe on my late rambles 
in Labrador. 
Black Hawk, Falco niger , Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vi. p. 82. Adult. 
Falco lagopus, Bonap. Syn., p. 32. Young. 
Falco Sancti-Johannis, Bonap. Syn., p. 32. Adult. 
Buteo lagopus, Rough-legged Buzzard, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. 
ii. p. 52. 
Rough-legged Falcon, Falco lagopus , Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. iv. p. 59, Young ; 
vol. v. p. 216, Adult and Young. 
Middle-aged Male. ' 
Wings long, third quill longest, fourth almost equal, second shorter than 
fifth, first very short ; first four abruptly cut out towards the end on the inner 
web ; secondaries broad and rounded. Tail rather long, broad, rounded. 
Bill dull bluish-grey, black at the end. Iris hazel, projecting part of the 
eyebrow greenish-blue, cere yellow. Toes yellow, claws black. Bases of 
the black bristles of the lore whitish. The head and neck are streaked with 
umber-brown and yellowish-white, the centre and tip of each feather being 
of the former colour. Back umber-brown, variegated with light reddish- 
brown and yellowish-white. Quills dark brown towards the end,, the outer 
webs of the first six tinged with grey, the base of all white, that colour 
extending farther on the secondaries, of most of which, and of some of the 
primaries, the inner web is irregularly barred with brown. Upper tail- 
coverts white, irregularly barred with dark brown. Tail white at the base, 
brown and mottled towards the end, with a broad subterniinal band of 
brownish-black, the tips brownish-white. Middle and hind part of the 
thorax, with the sides, blackish-brown. Breast yellowish-white, largely 
spotted and blotched with umber. Feathers of the legs paler yellowish-red, 
barred with dusky ; abdomen yellowish-white, as are the under tail-coverts, 
which are marked with a small brown spot. 
Length 22 inches ; extent of wings 4 feet 1 inch ; bill along the back If, 
along the edge lfs ; tarsus 2j4. 
The Female agrees in colouring, but is considerably larger. 
