148 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Jan. 



ticularly if the bird has suffered some illness or is retarded 

 through other causes, just as a caged bird seldom acquires full 

 summer vestiture. Apart from this it seems to me to be just 

 as unreasonable to expect to meet with constant individuals of 

 that class as it would be to find robins masquerading in the 

 dress of their mates, either male or female. 



In their home life, that is when they are breeding, Marsh 

 Hawks usually select some low-lying ground though it may be 

 many miles from water. Thus, choosing a situation usually 

 among low bush, or at least where the trees are not very close 

 together, they commence to build a nest chiefly of small sticks 

 and stems of grass, the latter being used more particularly for 

 lining. This nest is generally a bulky affair placed upon the 

 ground. I have found them among willows close to water, 

 also among low aspen poplars, or even tall ones, in situations by 

 no means appropriate to the bird's name. My experience is 

 that they prefer open prairies intermixed with bluff and marshes, 

 though when the latter are not available they adapt themselves 

 to the former. I have never, however, found a nest on high 

 land away from some sort of trees. If undisturbed these birds will 

 return to their old haunts year after year, though choosing each 

 season a new situation on which to place their nest. It is inter- 

 esting to watch them while they are seeking for a nesting site. 

 They seem first of all to decide upon a locality, then flying to 

 and fro looking over every inch of the ground, they gradually 

 determine upon the actual spot. During this period of selecting 

 and building, the male, as well as helping in the work, indulges 

 in many antics for his mate's edification; the chief one being 

 to turn summersaults. These acrobatic performances are most 

 interesting. He usually starts with a sort of wobbly flight as 

 if imitating a tips}- individual, then swooping downwards, he 

 turns completely over, occasionally several times in succession 

 and then darts up again with a cackle to repeat the same per- 

 formance over again, often tumbling within a few feet of the 

 female which is usually flying below. Occasionally these per- 

 formances are terminated with the wobbly flight over again, 

 at other times thev neither start nor end in this manner. I have 

 also observed the female try her skill in the same way but she 

 lacks the confidence and grace of her husband. These birds 

 also often utter shrill cries, more particularly when two males 

 are present; they also sometimes fight, specially the males. 



During the breeding season the hen seems to keep very 

 continuouslv on the nest while her lord replenishes the larder. 

 At such times he may be seen flying low around bush and field 

 in search of gophers or mice, though a small bird, too, does not 

 come amiss. If vou were in the vicinitv of the nest vou would 



