122 



ing at the nearest station, I started back, for the purpose of shooting 

 it, but was disappointed in not finding it where it was seen from the 

 train. It was found, however, about a mile farther east, surrounded 

 by Crows {Corvus americanus), upon a sandy spot, where it looked 

 like a patch of snow, in the midst of its black tormentors. The Crows 

 scattered as I approached, and the Owl also flew slowly off, keeping 

 just above the grass. It was followed by a part of the Crows, and 

 soon lighted amongst the tussocks of grass. I crept up to within range, 

 and shot it with No. 4 shot, and gave the hindermost of the retreating 

 Crows the benefit of the left barrel, which was loaded with Bs. The 

 Owl was not dead when I reached it, but made a fine display of courage 

 when caught. Its eyes were wonderfully bright and full of fire ; and 

 it snapped its bill, and clawed fiercely ; I offered it an empty shell, 

 when reloading, which it seized and bit viciously. It uttered a squeal- 

 ing and also a grunting noise. 



Dimensions. — Measurements of No. 815, ^ ad. December 1, 1875 

 (shot on the south side of Long Island, N. Y., by Wm. Birch) : length, 

 23-50; stretch, 58*31; wing, 14-75; tail, 9-38. Its stomach was dis- 

 tended with feathers. Measurements of No. 2,108, J' ad. October 29, 

 1880, Garden City, Long Island, E. A. M. : length, 22 85: stretch, 59-00; 

 wing, 15-75; tail, 9-50; culmen, measured from frontal feathers, 1-53; 

 from cere, 1-00; gape, 1-98; tarsus (about), 1-90; claw of the middle 

 toe, 1-18. Stomach entirely empty. 



Family, FALCONID^. 



132. Circus hudsonitlS (Linne). Marsh Hawk. A permanent 

 resident ; breeds. It occurs regularly in winter ; particularly numerous 

 in that of 1874-75, when numbers were observed in the bluish plum- 

 age. It breeds upon the marshes which connect Constitution, Consook 

 and lona islands to the main-land. One nest on Consook Marsh, which 

 had been recently deserted by the young, was placed in the middle of 

 the marsh ; the ground around it was packed hard, and was bare of 

 grass. 



133. Accipiter fuscus (Gmelin). Sharp-shinned Hawk. A 

 permanent resident: breeds. 



Next to the Broad-winged, this is our most abundant Hawk. It 

 builds upon trees, for the most part, though some nests are placed on 

 ledges of rocks. During the spring movement, this species sometimes 

 migrates in large flocks. 



Dimensions. — Average measurements of three males : length, 11-45; 

 stretch, 21'00; wing, 6-60; tail, 5*37 ; gape, '65; tarsus, 196; middle 

 toe, 1-19. Measurements of female: length, 14*00; stretch, 25-75; 

 wing, 7-70; tail, 6-65; tarsus, 2-11. 



