20 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



GENUS CIRCUS. Bechstein. 



Bill much compressed, terminating in a long and acute hook : lobe on the cutting margin 

 distinct. Nostrils large, oblong, covered in part by hair, with an oblique ridge from their 

 upper edge. Lores hairy. Tarsi long, scutellate before and behind, partly feathered. 

 Plumage soft. A ruff of narrow feathers on each side behind the eye. Ear-openings 

 large. Tail long, nearly even. 



THE MARSH HARRIER. 



Circus tjliginosus. 



PLATE III. FIG. 6 (Male), FIG. 7 (Female). 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



F. uliginosus. Wils. Orn. Vol. 6, p. G7, pi. 51, fig. 3 (female). 



F. (Circus) cyanms. Bonap Ann, Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 33. 



F. id. Id. Am Orn. Vol. 2, p. 31, pi. 12 (male). 



Hen Harrier. Ncttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 109. 



Buteo (Circus) cyaneus. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 55, pi. 29 (male). 



Marsh Hawk. Aud. fol. pi. 356. B. of A. Vol. 1, p. 105, pi. 26 (male and female). 



Strigiceps uliginosus. Bonap. Comp. List, p. 5. 



Circus cyaneus. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 21. 



Characteristics. Bluish grey above ; white, spotted with brown, beneath. Third and 

 fourth primaries equal. Female and young, reddish brown ; beneath 

 rusty with spots. Length, 20 inches. 



Description. Tarsus with short feathers in front for nearly an inch. A row of stiff 

 bristles curving up over the base of the bill, and nearly concealing the nostrils. Tail almost 

 even, or very slightly rounded. 



Color. Bluish grey above, with dark brown primaries ; beneath light blue or white, with 

 scattering light reddish brown spots. Tail beneath lig'it colored, with 3-4 obsolete narrow 

 dark bands. Bill blue. Legs yellow. Female: Dark brown above, with the feathers bor- 

 dered with a lighter color ; beneath bright reddish brown, with longitudinal broad streaks of 

 a dark brown color. Tail beneath bluish white, with two distant broad bands. 



Length, 18-0-22-0. Alar extent, 41-0-47-0. 



The Marsh Hawk, or Hen Harrier, is common over this continent, and extends its migra- 

 tions from Mexico to the 68th parallel. It makes its nest on the ground, and lays four smooth 

 rounded bluish white eggs. Audubon also describes them as being sprinkled with pale red- 

 dish brown spots. Its usual food consists of field mice, and of small serpents, frogs, lizards 

 and other reptiles. It is a constant resident with us during the year, and, as its names imply, 

 is frequently observed skimming over the marshes in search of its prey, and occasionally 

 makes a dash at the poultry yard. 



