48 • ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



found south of Massachusetts in winter. I do not remem- 

 ber of an instance of its being captured far inland, although 

 J. A. Allen, before quoted, includes it in the catalogue of 

 the birds of Springfield, Mass. 



A single egg in my collection, from Northern America, is 

 of the following dimensions: 2.17 by 1.70 inch. Its form 

 is a perfect ovoidal. Its primary color is a dirty white ; 

 and it is marked with obscure blotches of lilac, and some 

 obscure blotches of brown and brownish-yellow. None of 

 the markings are decided ; and, at a little distance, the egg 

 has the appearance of being of a dirty-white color. 



Sub-Family Milvin^e. — Tlie Kites. 



Size various, usually medium or small ; general form usually rather slender, and 

 not strong; wings and tail usually long; bill short, weak, hooked, and acute ; tarsi 

 and toes usuallj' slender, and not strong, sometimes short. The birds of this group 

 habitually feed on reptiles and other small animals, and are deficient in the strength 

 and courage of the other groups of the falcons. 



CIRCUS, Lacepeue. 



■ Circus, Lacepede, Mem. d'Inst. Paris, III. CXI. 506 (1803). 



Face partially encircled by a ring or ruff of short projecting feathers, as in the 

 owls; head rather large; bill short, compressed, curved from the base; nostrils 

 large; wings long, pointed; tail rather long, wide; tarsi long and slender; toes 

 moderate; claws rather slender and weak. 



CIRCUS HUDSONIUS. — Vkillot. 

 The Marsh-hawk; Harrier; Mouse-hawk. 



Falco JTufJsonius, Linnaus. Syst. Nat., I. 128 (1766). 

 Falco ulifjinosus, Gm. Syst. Nat., I. 278 (1788). 

 Falco ulif/inostis, Wilson. Am. Orn., VI. 67. 

 Falco cyaneus, Aububon. Orn. Biog., IV. 396. 



Description. 



Adult. — Form rather lonfi; and slender; tarsi long; ruflF quite distinct on the 

 neck in front: entire upper parts, head, and breast, pale bluish-cinereous, on 

 the back of the head mixed witli dark -fulvous ; upper tail coverts white; under 

 parts white, with small cordate or hastate spots of light-ferruginous ; quills brownish- 

 black, with their outer webs tinged with ashy, and a large portion of their inner 



