BIRDS OF MARSHALL COUNTY 149 



made to watch the bird from a blind. A regular umbrella blind 

 was used and when this failed a nearby pile of cord wood was 

 converted into a hiding place with no better success. 



61. Circus Itudsonkus. Marsh Hawk. The marsh hawk was 

 recorded every month in the year except January but was most 

 common as a migrant in March and October. A single male 

 secured by Hartley Vogt November 7, 1913, is the only one from 

 this region in the collection. It is an uncommon summer resi- 

 dent and breeding species. During July of 1915, Mr. Friese 

 found a nest of this species containing young. 



62. Accipiter velox. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Hawks of all 

 kinds were comparatively uncommon in this region, owing to 

 the prevailing custom among the gunners of shooting every one 

 that comes within range. The sharp-shin was found as a spring 

 migrant from April 27 to May 22 and in fall from September 

 12 to October 21. Three specimens were taken as follows: An 

 adult feanale, April 27, 1913 ; a male, October 12, 1913 ; and a 

 female, September 12, 1914. 



63. Accipiter cooperi. Cooper's Hawk. Recorded from April 

 3 to November 15 but never abundant. This species occasionally 

 bred, as several eggs of "hen hawks" in the collections of boys in 

 Marshalltown belonged to it. A young bird evidently not long 

 out of the nest was seen at j\Iormons Ridge on July 1, 1915. One 

 pair started to build in a tall willow along Iowa river in April, 

 1914, but disappeared before completing the nest. 



64. Buteo horealis krideri. Red-tailed Hawk. Except the 

 sparrow hawk, the red-tail was the most common hawk of the 

 region. It was found in all months except January, being most 

 abundant as a migTant in March and April and October and 

 November. On April 29, 1914, a pair were noted about a nest 

 in a tall cottonwood but the}- disappeared in a few days. A pair 

 nested in 1914 in a little clump of giant cottonwoods on Iowa 

 river about five miles above Marshalltown. No details as to this 

 nest were secured. ]\Ir. Friese gave the \\Titer an immature red- 

 tail which was shot October 19, 1913, just after it had boldly 

 killed a chicken in his yard. A second specimen was secured on 

 October 25, 1913. Mr. H. C. Oberholser has identified these 

 two specimens as B. h. lirideri. 



