88 BULLETIN 16 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



wide open spaces in search of food, is light, buoyant, graceful, 

 and easy, as well as long protracted and apparently tireless. "Wil- 

 liam Brewster (1925) has described it perfectly, as follows: "Fly- 

 ing ever in the buoyant, unhurried manner so characteristic of their 

 race, now renewing waning impetus by a few deliberate wing- 

 strokes, next gliding for several rods on wings set with the tips held 

 well upwards, much as those of a gliding Turkey Vulture are held, tilt- 

 ing their bodies more or less perceptibly from side to side and 

 rarely pursuing a perfectly straight course for more than a few 

 yards at a time, they may skirt the shore for miles, following all 

 its windings closely, and keeping just outside the outer ranks of 

 living trees, but taking no especial pains to thus avoid outstanding 

 dead ones." 



While migrating it flies at a higher elevation with steadier wing 

 beats. Its nuptial flight is spectacular and shows its ability as an 

 aviator and a stunt flier, for which the long wings and tail, com- 

 bined with a light body, are well adapted. Its lofty evolutions are 

 not so well known, but it compares favorably with other hawks in its 

 soaring ability. Mrs. Bailey (1915) says: "When flying high 

 enough to be exposed to the strong prairie wind, her maneuvers, and 

 those of the male when he joined her, were fascinating and beauti- 

 ful to watch. After flapping low over the ground, they would set 

 their wings and, perfected monoplanes, rise with the wind, tilting 

 and turning, changing their angles with enviable skill to meet the 

 vagaries of the air-currents. They would sail with set wings, buffeted 

 by the wind, and then, as if their sailing muscles were tired, turn tail 

 in midair and sweep back with a beautiful downward curve." 



Marsh hawks occasionally perch on trees or bushes, but only rarely ; 

 they normally stand on the ground or perch on stumps, fence posts, 

 or telegraph poles. They even roost on tlie ground at night. They 

 have favorite perching, feeding, and roosting stations, which are 

 well marked with pellets, excrement, and feathers. Mr. Stoddard 

 (1931) says: "This species has the un-hawklike habit of roosting 

 on the ground, frequenting the same spot night after night. If 

 numerous, the hawks form a loose roosting group numbering from 

 two or three, to as many as thirty. A large field grown up to heavy 

 broomsedge and preferably upon a hilltop is chosen as a roosting 

 site. Each bird has a beaten-down spot in the sedge, well 'limed' 

 with the droppings." 



J. D. Smith shot a male marsh hawk just after daybreak of a 

 very frosty morning; its back and tail feathers were covered with 

 frost. 



I have no brief for the marsh hawk as a gentle, harmless bird; 

 on the other hand, I consider it a decidedly intolerant, aggressive. 



