Species XVI. FALCO ULIGINOSSU* 



MARSH HAWK. 



[Plate LI. Fig. 1.] 

 Edw. IV., 291.— Lath, i., ^Q.—Ard. ZooL p. 208, No. 105.— Bartram, p. 290. 



A DRAWING of this Hawk was transmitted to Edwards more than 

 fifty years ago, by Mr. William Bartram, and engraved in Plate 291 

 of Edwards' Natural History. At that time, and I believe till now, it 

 has been considered as a species peculiar to this country. 



I have examined various individuals of this Hawk, both in summer 

 and in the depth of winter, and find them to correspond so nearly with 

 the Ring-tail of Europe, that I have no doubt of their being the same 

 species, t 



This Hawk is most numerous where there are extensive meadows 

 and salt marshes, over which it sails very low, making frequent circui- 

 tous sweeps over the same ground, in search of a species of mouse, 

 figured in Plate L., and very abundant in such situations. It occasion- 

 ally flaps the wings, but is most commonly seen sailing about within a 

 few feet of the surface. They are usually known by the name of the 

 Mouse Hawk along the coast of New Jersey, where they are very com- 

 mon. Several were also brought me last winter from the meadows 

 below Philadelphia. Having never seen its nest, I am unable to describe 

 it from my own observation. It is said, by European writers, to build 

 on the ground, or on low limbs of trees. Pennant observes, that it 

 sometimes changes to a rust-colored variety, except on the rump and 

 tail. It is found, as was to be expected, at Hudson's Bay, being 

 native in both this latitude and that of Britain. We are also informed 

 that it is common in the open and temperate parts of Russia and 

 Siberia ; and extends as far as Lake Baikal, though it is said not to be 

 found in the north of Europe. | 



The Marsh Hawk is twenty-one inches long, and three feet eleven inches 

 extent ; cere and legs yellow, the former tinged with green, the latter 



* Falco pygargus, Linn. 



t This opinion of Wilson's is in accordance with that of some recent ornithoIo<;ists. 



We add the following synonymes: F. cyaneus, Gmel. Syst.i., p. 226. — Lath. Lid. 



Orn. p. 39. — Ring-tail, Penx. Brit. Zool. i.,p. 194, No. 59. — Hen-Harrier, Id. p. 193, 



No. 58. — F. pygargus, Linn, l^yst. i., p. 89, No. 9, ed. 10. — Circus IluiJsonius, 



Vieil. Ois de I'Am. Sept. i., p. 36, pi. 9, — Buzard Saint-Martin, Temm. Man. d' Orn 



f., p. 72. 



X Palls, as quoted by Pennant. 



(79) 



