574 GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



CATHARISTA, Vieill. 



C. atrata, Bartr. Black Vulture. Carrion Crow. 



Wings short ; skin of neck corrugated ; no bristles in front ot 

 eye; uniform dull black. Length, 24 inches; tail, 8 inches; 

 wings, 17 inches. Southern; strays northward. Rarely visits 

 New Jersey. 



Family FALCONIDiE. 



Falcons. 



ELANOIDES, Gray. 



E. forficatus, L. Swallow-tailed Kite. 



Lustrous black ; head, neck and lower parts white ; tail 

 widely forked, outer feathers twice as long as middle ones. 

 Length, 19 to 25 inches; tail, 14 inches. Southern; accidental 

 on our coast. 



CIRCUS, Lac. 



C. hudBoniuB, L. Marsh Hawk. Marsh Harrier. 



Face with a slight ruff; color pale bluish or brown ; rump 

 and under parts whitish. Length, 1 8 inches ; tail, 9 inches. 



" Known also as ' bog-trotter.' This very abundant hawk 

 prefers meadow lands and appears to be especially abundant 

 along the Delaware River, from Trenton to Cape May. They 

 feed upon mice principally, but are also very active in picking 

 up the wounded reedbirds and 'red-wings' which the gun- 

 ners fail to gather. The nest of this species is placed upon the 

 ground, in tangled marshy thickets, the same being often used 

 several seasons." 



AC CI PITER, Briss. 



(Nisus, Cuv.) 

 A. velox, Wils. (fuscus, Gmel.) Sharp-shinned Hawk. Pigeon Hawk. 

 Tarsus feathered less than one-third down front, the feathers 

 widely separated behind ; tarsus " booted " in male ; general 

 color dark brown. Length, 12 inches; tail 6 inches. 



