all 
46 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
found south of Massachusetts in winter. I do not remem- 
ber of an instance of its being captured far inland, although 
J. A. Allen, before quoted, includes it in the catalogue of 
the birds of Springfield, Mass. 
A single egg in my collection, from Northern America, is 
of the following dimensions: 2.17 by 1.70 inch. Its form 
is a perfect ovoidal. Its primary color is a dirty white ; 
and it is marked with obscure blotches of lilac, and some 
obscure blotches of brown and brownish-yellow. None of 
the markings are decided ; and, at a little distance, the egg 
has the appearance of being of a dirty-white color. 
Sub-Family Mitvinz.—The Kites. 
Size various, usually medium or small; general form usually rather slender, and 
not strong; wings and tail usually long; bill short, weak, hooked, and acute; tarsi 
and toes usually slender, and not strong, sometimes short. The birds of this group 
habitually feed on reptiles and other small animals, and are deficient in the strength 
and courage of the other groups of the falcons. 
CIRCUS, LAcEPEDE. 
Circus, LACEPEDE, Mem. (Inst. Paris, III. CXI. 506 (1803). 
Face partially encircled by a ring or ruff of short projecting feathers, as in the 
owls; head rather large; bill short, compressed, curved from the base; nostrils 
large; wings long, pointed; tail rather long, wide; tarsi long and slender; toes 
moderate; claws rather slender and weak. 
CIRCUS HUDSONIUS. — Vieillot. 
The Marsh-hawk; Harrier; Mouse-hawk. 
Falco Hudsonius, Linneus. Syst. Nat., I. 128 (1766). 
Falco uliginosus, Gm. Syst. Nat., I. 278 (1788). 
Falco uliginosus, Wilson. Am. Orn., VI. 67. 
Falco cyaneus, Aububon. Orn. Biog., IV. 396. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Adult. — Form rather long and slender; tarsi iong; ruff quite distinct on the 
neck in front: entire upper parts, head, and breast, pale bluish-cinereous, on 
the back of the head mixed with dark-fulvous; upper tail coverts white; under 
parts white, with small cordate or hastate spots of light-ferruginous; quills brownish- 
black, with their outer webs tinged with ashy, and a large portion of their inner 
