THE MARSH HAWK. 493 
seven distinct, blackish bands; remaining feathers barred with ochraceous and 
blackish; underparts ochraceous or buffy, streaked broadly on the breast, and 
narrowly on the belly with light brown or dusky. Jimmature: Similar to adult 
female but darker—trich chocolate-brown above, and on sides of neck and cheeks ; 
the underparts darker, cinnamon-rufous,—the belly unmarked. Males show 
every gradation between immature and adult plumage, and indeed the perfect 
adult male plumage is rarely found. Adult male, length: 17.50-20.00 (444.5-508) ; 
wing 13.00-14.00 (330.2-355.6); tail 8.50-10.00 (215.9-254); bill from nostril 
.65 (16.5). Adult female, length: 19.00-24.00 (482.6-609.6) ; wing 14.00-16.00 
(355-6-406.4) : tail 9.50-10.50 (241.3-266.7). 
Recognition Marks.—Crow size; white upper tail-coverts make the best 
field mark; long tail; marsh-haunting habits. 
Nesting.—Nest: on the ground in marshes, of twigs and dry grasses or moss. 
Eggs: 3-6, 8 of record, pale bluish white, usually unmarked but sometimes spotted 
or blotched with pale rufous. Av. size, 1.78 x 1.40 (45.2 x 35.6). Season: May 
1-June 10; one brood. 
General Range.—North America in general, south to Panama and Cuba. 
Breeds thruout its North American range. 
Range in Washington.— Not uncommon summer resident and migrant thru- 
out the State, rather more common easterly ; casual in winter. 
Authorities.—Circus hudsonius, Vieill, Cooper and Suckley, Rep. Pac. R. 
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Specimens.—Proy. B. E. 
HUMILITY is the leading characteristic of this “‘ignoble” bird of prey, 
whether we regard its chosen paths, its spirit, or the nature of its quarry. 
Pre-eminently a bird of the meadows and marshes, it usually avoids the woods 
entirely, and is to be seen coursing over the grass and weed tops with an easy 
gliding flight. Since it flies at such a low elevation as neither to see nor be 
seen, over the limits of an entire field, it oftenest moves in a huge zigzag course, 
quartering its territory like a hunting-dog. Now and then the bird pauses 
and hovers to make a more careful examination of a suspect, or drops sud- 
denly into the grass seizing a mole or cricket, and retiring to a convenient 
spot—a fence-post or a grassy knoll—to devour its catch. 
The food of the Marsh Hawk consists entirely of meadow-mice, gophers. 
garter-snakes, frogs, lizards, grasshoppers and the like. In hunting for 
gophers the bird flies higher and secures its prey by a headlong dash, pinning 
the victim to the ground and making sure of the kill before rising. So great 
is its fondness for mice that one may, with sufficient cover for concealment, 
succeed in calling the Hawk very close by imitating the squeak of a mouse in 
distress. In winter, when other food is scarce, small birds may be attacked. 
Occasionally the Harrier essays nobler game, as a Teal or a Grouse; but he 
makes a poor fist at it, and usually retires vowing never again to aspire above 
his station. 
This Hawk is one of the most unwary, as it is the most useful of its race. 
