304 THE MARSH HAWK. 
General Range.— United States, especially in the interior, from the Carolinas 
and Minnesota southward, throughout Central and South America; westward to 
the Great Plains. Casual eastward to southern New England, and northward to 
Manitoba and Assiniboia. Breeding range irregularly coincident with general 
distribution in the United States. Accidental in England. 
Range in Ohio.—Formerly abundant. Now rare and casual. ‘Two records 
since 1858. 
NOTHING can compensate us for the loss of this exceedingly graceful 
and highly beneficial bird, or atone for the criminal stupidity which has 
decreed the extermination of it simply because of its size and hawk-like 
appearance. Poultry raising is an important business, and requires rigid 
protection, but more ornithological crimes have been committed in its name 
than in that of any other, save fashion. The Swallow-tailed Kite feeds 
largely upon snakes, lizards, toads, and insects—the latter caught almost 
exclusively upon the wing. In the South it renders inestimable service 
through the destruction of the cotton worm. On the other hand, it has never 
been known to molest poultry, altho its chance appearance above a chicken 
coop naturally causes undiscriminating fowls some needless alarm. 
Described by Wilson as abundant on the extensive prairies of Ohio and 
the Indian Territory, it has rapidly decreased in numbers until now it is only 
“accidental.” In 1838, Dr. Kirtland noted its failure to appear in its accus- 
tomed haunts in Portage and Stark Counties. In 1858, Mr. Karkpatrick noted 
its decrease in Crawford County, but says “Occasionally a specimen may be 
found there still.” In 1878 a specimen, killed in Licking County, was pre- 
sented to Dr. Wheaton. In 1898, Rey. W. F. Henninger records the cap- 
ture of a last specimen near Chillicothe. Sic transit gloria coeli. 
No. 176. 
MARSH HAWK. 
VA. O. U. N. 331. Circus hudsonius (Linn.). 
Synonym.—Marsu Harrier. 
Description.—Adult male: Head and neck all around, chest, and upper parts 
light bluish gray or ashy, the hind head darker, with much partially concealed 
white, and tinged with ochraceous; five outer primaries mostly black; upper 
tail-coverts pure white; tail silvery gray, barred irregularly with blackish, the 
subterminal band largest, tipped with whitish, the inner webs whitish or rusty- 
tinged; remaining under parts, including under side of wing (except terminal 
third of primaries), white——the belly, flanks and tibiz sparsely spotted or barred 
with rufous or pale dusky, and the lining of the wing with a few dusky spots and 
bars; wings, tail, and shanks, greatly lengthened; tip of wing formed by third 
