218 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



by hunger, they will attack even wild Ducks. Dr. Kennerly also observed 

 them equally abundant in the same localities in New Mexico. Dr. New- 

 berry mentions finding this Hawk abundant beyond all parallel on the plains 

 of Upper Pitt Kiver. He saw several hundred in a single day's march. 



In Washington Territory both Dr. Suckley and Dr. Cooper found this 

 Hawk abundant througliout tlie open districts, and especially so in winter. 

 Dr. Cooper found it no less common in California, and among several him- 

 dreds saw but two birds in the blue plumage. Near Fort Laramie he found 

 it no less common, but there, at least one half were in the blue plumage. 

 From this he infers that the older birds seek the far interior in preference to 

 the seaboard. 



Mr. Allen mentions it as common in winter about the savannas in Flor- 

 ida, and Mr. Salvin states that it is a migratory species in Guatemala. It 

 occurred in the Pacific Coast Eegion, and examples were also received from 

 Vera Paz. 



In evidence of the nomadic character of the Marsh Ha\vk it may be men- 

 tioned that specimens asserted to be of this species are in the Leyden Mu- 

 seum that were received from the Philippines and from Kamtschatka. 



In Wilson's time this Hawk was quite numerous in the marslies of New 

 Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, where it swept over the low grounds, 

 sailing near the earth, in search of a kind of mouse very common in such 

 situations, and was there very generally known as the Mouse Hawk. It is 

 also said to be very serviceable in the Southern rice-fields in interrupting 

 the devastations made by the swarms of Bobolinks. As it sails low and 

 swiftly over the fields, it keeps the flocks in perpetual fluctuation, and greatly 

 interrupts their depredations. Wilson states that one Marsh Hawk was 

 considered by the planters equal to several negroes for alarming the Eice- 

 birds. Audubon, however, controverts this statement, and quotes Dr. Bach- 

 man to the effect that no Marsh Hawks are seen in the rice-fields until after 

 the Bobolinks are gone. Dr. Coues, on the other hand, gives this Hawk as 

 resident throughout the year in South Carolina. 



According to Audubon, the ]\Tarsh Hawk rarely pursues birds on the wing, 

 nor does it often carry its prey to any distance before it alights and devours 

 it. While engaged in feeding, it may be readily approached, surprised, and 

 shot. When wounded, it endeavors to make off by long leaps ; and when 

 overtaken, it throws itself on the back and fights furiously. In winter its 

 notes while on the wing are sharp, and are said to resemble the syllables 

 pee-pec-2xe. The love-notes are similar to tliose of the columharius. 



Mr. Audubon has found this Hawk nesting not only in lowlands near 

 the sea-shore, but also in the barrens of Kentucky and on the cleared table- 

 lands of the Alleghanies, and once in the high covered pine-barrens of 

 Florida. 



After having paired, the Marsh Hawks invariably keep together, and labor 

 conjointly in the construction of the nest, in sitting upon the eggs, and in 



