North American Birds Eggs. 



157 



331. Marsh Hawk. Circus hu(h()niu>>. 



Rant;e. — Whoh' of North America, very abundant in all sections. 



Tlie atlnlt of this species is very li,t;lit colored, and yount,' birds of the first 

 two years have a reddish brown coloration; in 



both pluniat,'es the species is easily identified ^<'<^ ~~^ 



by the white patch on the rump. They are, y^ ' , * 



almost exclusively, frequenters of tields and 



marshes, where tliey can most often be seen, 



towarils dusk, swooping in liroad curves near 



the ground, watching for tield mice, which form 



the larger portion of their diet. Their nests are 



made in swampy ground, often in the middle 



of a large marsh, being placed on the ground in 



the centre of a hummock or clump of grass; it 



is generally well lined with grasses and often 



rushes. They lay from four to seven pale 



bluish white eggs, generally unmarked; size 



l.H()xl.4(). Data.-Ballston, N. Y., May 20, 



1894. Five eggs in a nest of twigs and grass, on 



ture lot. Collector, Wm. McClair. 



[Pale bluish whiter 

 the ground in a marshy pas- 



332. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Arripitcr rclox. 



Range. — Whole of North America, wintering in the I'nitetl .States and south- 

 ward; breeds throughout its range but most 

 abundantly in northern United States and north- 

 ward. This is one of the smallest of the hawks 

 and in the adult plumage is a beautiful species, 

 being barred below with light brown, and having 

 a bluish slate back. It is a very spirited and dar- 

 ing bird and is one of the most destructive to 

 small birds and young chickens. Its nest is a 

 rude and sometimes very frail platform of twigs 

 and leaves placed against the trunk of the tree at 

 any height but averaging, perhaps, fifteen feet. 



The eggs are bluish white, beautifully blotched 



[Bluish white.] and spotted with shades of brown. Size 1.45x1.15. 



333. Cooper Hawk. Arripitcr roopcrii. 



Range.— Whole of temperate North 

 America, breeding throughout its range. 



Although larger, (length 17 inches) the 

 plumage of this species is almost exactly 

 the same as that of the preceding. Like 

 the last, this is also a destructive species. 

 They construct their nests in the crotches 

 of trees, generally at quite a height from 

 the ground; the "nest is made of sticks 

 and twigs, and often lined with pieces of 

 bark; occasionally an old Hawk's or Crow's 

 nest is used by the birds. Their eggs are 

 bluish white, "unmarked or faintly spotted 

 with pale brown. Size 1.90 x 1.45. Data.— 

 Galesburg, 111. April 16, 1S91. Threeeggs 

 in an old Crow's nest, made of sticks, lined 

 with corn husks; in large oak 5U feet from ground 



luish white. 

 Collector, F. C. Willard. 



