456 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. IX. 



In southern Illinois it occurs more or less commonly in winter. 

 W. W. Cooke says: "During the winter of 1884-85 the Marsh Hawk 

 was plentiful at Paris, 111." (Bird Migr. Miss. Val., 1888, p. 113.) 



The nest is placed on the ground in grassy marshes. The eggs 

 are usually 4 or 5, dull white or faintly tinged bluish or greenish, and 

 measure about 1.85 x 1.45 inches. The Field Museum collection 

 contains sets of eggs of this species taken between May 14 and June 

 15. Although the majority breed in May and June, eggs have been 

 taken in northern Illinois during the latter part of April. 



Genus ACCIPITER Briss. 



155. Accipiter velox (Wils.). 



Sharp-shinned Hawk. 



Distr.: North iVmerica, breeding nearly throughout its range; 

 in winter south to Mexico and Central America. 



Special characters : Fourth primary, longest; tail, nearly square, 

 the outer tail feather being less than three-quarters of an inch shorter 

 than the middle feathers; under surface of primaries, dull white, 

 barred with grayish brown. 



Adult male and female: Upper plumage, slaty gray; tail with 

 broad alternate bars of light ash gray and dark slaty gray, tipped with 



Sharp-shinned Hawk. 



