ROUGH-LEG, a buzrzard-hawk of the genus Archibuteo, especially A. lagopus, so called because feathered down to the toes. It is known throughout the northern regions of both continents, and is typically whitish, streaked with rust-red, but the American form best known is a melanotic variety (A. lagopus sancti-johannis), which frequents the maritime districts of the Atlantic Coast and is less bften seen in the interior, except northerly. The western United States and Pacific Coast have a second species (A. ferrugineus), called in Cali fornia squirrel-hawk, which is rusty brown, marked with gray, white and black, or some times plain dark chocolate brown. These hawks are large (23 to 24 inches in length) and of fierce and noble appearance, but they have none of the dash and spirit of the falcons and in deed seem inferior to the buteos in this respect. Their quarry, though diversified, is always humble; they prey upon various field-mice and other very small' quadrupeds, lizards and frogs and even insects, rarely attacking birds of any kind, and then only the Most defenseless. Open
fields, especially in the vicinity of water, are their favorite resorts. They appear heavy and indisposed to active exertion; flying slowly and heavily and often remaining long motionless on their perch. They show some analogy to the owls in points of structure, as well as in their partially nocturnal habits. Wilson observes that it habitually courses over the meadows long after the sun has set, and Audubon calls it the most nocturnal of our species. The nest is ordi narily built of sticks, etc., in a high tree; some times, however, on cliffs. The eggs, three or four in number, measure about two and one third by one and three-quarter inches, largely blotched with different shades of brown, some times mixed with purplish slate markings.