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in the spring. They are much more plentiful in the southern States, than 
in the northern, and are not found in the eastern at all. 
The head, neck, breast and abdomen are white. The rest of the body 
black, with metalic purplish reflections. The feet greenish blue, with flesh- 
colored claws; bill bluish black; cere light blue; iris black. Both sexes 
alike, but the male rather smaller. Length of female, 23 to 25 inches; 
wing 16 to 174; tail 14 inches. 
Very fine specimen in the Cabinet of Prof. Kirtland. 
GENUS Crrcus—Lacepede, 
Species of medium size; head rather large; face with a disc of short 
feathers partially encircling it, as in the owls. Bill short, compressed, 
curved from the base; nostrils large; wings long and pointed; tail long and 
wide; tarsi long, slender and compressed; toes moderate; claws long, and 
rather slender. The species, about fifteen, are scattered all over the world, 
one only in North America. 
Circus HuDsSOoNIUsS—Linn—THE MarsH HAWK. 
Wilson’s Am. Orn., VL, pl. 51, fig. 2; Audubon’s B. of Am., oct. ed., I, 
pl. 26. 
A widely distributed species having been obtained in California, Oregon, 
Cuba, and all the rest of North America. It is quite common in Ohio, 
and abounds around Sandusky Bay, in the marshes of which it obtains a 
rich supply of food. Along the Cuyahoga bottoms it may often be seen, 
and it no doubt breeds in these localities. 
The nest of this species is usually built on the ground, and often within 
a few feet.of the water level. The eggs, usually four, are of a bluish white 
color, sometimes sprinkled slightly with small, ight brown spots. In form, 
rather round, smooth, and an inch and three-quarters in length. 
The food of this species consists of insects, frogs, mice, and small birds, 
including quail and young ducks. Sometimes, when pressed by hunger 
and a good opportunity offers, a young chicken may fall a victim. It can- 
not, however, be looked upon as a dangerous neighbor, and may, possibly, 
do as much good as evil, in killing mice and other vermin. 
The color of the adult is a pale grayish cinereous, sometimes almost blue, 
generally tinged with brown, or fuscous; back of the head darker; upper 
