492 THE MARSH HAWK. 



the s(|ue;ikinos of the victim \r.u\ (|uite ceased, did the c;i|)loi- rise and disappear 

 bv rapid liight into tlie wood. 



The tlighl of the l'_\-i;iny Owl is not muffled Ijy softened winj^-linings. 

 as is the case with the Short-eared and olliers wliich liiint mucli a-wing: it is 

 ratlier pert and noisy, like a Shrike's. Like a Shrike, also, in extended course 

 it dives with closed wings, then opens suildenly ;ind tlulters up with ra])id 

 Strokes to regain the former level, — describing thus successive loops of flight. 



In spite of his insignificant size, the Pygmy is a dashing little brigand, 

 and no bird up to the size of a Robin is safe from its clutches. .So bold is he 

 that upon one occasion, when Mr. Bowles threw a large stick at one, the Owl 

 charged at the ])assing missile with all imaginable fury. The diet descends 

 not infrequent]\- to insects, hut s(|uin'els of twice the Owl's weight ai'c ])rompt- 

 Iv seized when occasion oif-ers. Dark days are as good ;is night to them, and 

 thev are sometimes aljroad on bright days as well. 



The P\gm\' (^wl "sings" in a small hollow \dice, kladk - khxtk - khiok 

 Itiok look look look look look, with an effect for tem])o something like that 

 produced b\' the accelerating rebound of a tin\' wooden mallet, struck on 

 resonant wood, in qualil\' something between this and the jtectoi-al quaver of 

 the Screech Owl. To our great coarse ears it is. of course, ridicuIousl\- 

 inof¥ensi\'e, but how like the knell of driom it must sinmd to a trembling 

 Chickadee ! 



No. 200. 



MARSH HAWK. 



A. O, V. No. 3,v Circus hudsonius (Linn.). 



Synonyms. — Maksii HakkiKr. Morsi' TIavvk. S.nakk ITawk. 



Description. — .Uliilt male: llea<l and neck all anniinl. chest, and iipiicr|)arts 

 light bluish grav or ashy, the hind head darker, with much partially concealetl 

 white, and tinged with ochraceous ; five outer primaries mostly black : upper 

 tail-coverts pure white; tail silverv gray, barred irregularly with blackish, the 

 subterminal band largest, tipjied with whitish, the inner webs whitish or rusty- 

 tinged :' remaining under]iarts, incluiling under side of wing (except terminal 

 third of primaries), white. — the belly, flanks and tibia= sparsely spotted or barred 

 with rufiuis or pale dusk^•. and the lining of the wing with a few dusky spots and 

 bars; wings, tail, and shanks, greatly lengthened; tip of wing formed by third 

 and fourtli jirimaries, wing when folded falling an inch or more short of tail, 

 and sometimes not reaching to end of feet. Iris bright yellow ; hill Idackish ; feet 

 vellow; claws black. Ad\dt female: Of different coloring; uppeqiarts dusky 

 i)r(>wn, the head and neck streaked and the lesser wing-coverts spotted or margined 

 with cinnamon-rufous; longer upper tail-coverts white, the shorter ones brown, 

 tipped with rufous; tail brown, becoming paler at tip, and crossed by six or 



