rough-legged falcon. 
97 
Subgenus. — Buteo (Buzzards.) 
Bill short, suddenly curving from its base, and much hooked ; lobe 
blunt ; the sides of the lower mandible bent inwards. Head rather 
large, with the neck thick and short; the body also rather stout.— 
Tarsus short and thick, scutellated, partially or wholly feathered ; 
outer toes connected at base by a membrane ; nails rather weak, 
those of the inner and hind toe largest. Wings usually long, with 
the 4 first primaries indented on the inner web ; the 1st very short, 
and the 4th longest. 
Female , larger, but similar in color. The young very different. 
By their heavy flight, inferior boldness, and massive form, they often 
appear to make an approach towards the owls ; in captivity indeed 
they habitually hide themselves, and appear dastardly. They feed 
on young rabbits, squirrels, mice, rats, moles, snakes, frogs, large in- 
sects, and small birds, which they commonly watch for while 
perched. 
§ 1. With the tar si feather ed to the toes. 
ROUGH-LEGGED FALCON. 
( Falco lagopus , Lin. Wilson. Am. Orn. iv. p. 59. pi. 33. fig. 1. 
[male.] ) 
Spec. Charact. — Varied with dark brown and ferruginous; a 
blackish brown belt on the belly ; tail white, dark brown to- 
wards the extremity, terminated by a dull white edging. — Female , 
generally lighter, though more brown along the sides and belly. 
— Young , the belt only indicated by large brown spots at the 
sides, with the feathers of the thighs transversely barred ; the 
tail with 3 bands towards its extremity ; and with the iris of a 
brownish yellow. 
This remarkable species of Buzzard appears to take 
up its residence chiefly in the northern wilds of Amer- 
ica, where probably it builds in large trees, as it is known 
to do in Europe. It is said to lay 4 eggs, clouded with 
reddish. It is common also to the north of Europe, if 
not to Africa. Its usual station is on the outskirts of 
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