NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



157 



331. Marsh Hawk. Circus hudsonius. 



Range. Whole of North America, very abundant in all sections. 



I he adult of this species is very light colored, and young birds of the first 

 two years have a reddish brown coloration; in 

 both plumages the species is easily identified 

 by the white patch on the rump. They are, 

 almost exclusively, frequenters of fields and 

 marshes, where they can most often be seen, 

 towards dusk, swooping in broad curves near 

 the ground, watching for field mice, which form 

 the larger portion of their diet. Their nests are 

 made in swampy ground, often in the middle 

 of a large marsh, being placed on the ground in 

 the centre of a hummock or clump of grass; it 

 is generally well lined with grasses and often 

 rushes. They lay from four to seven pale 

 bluish white eggs, generally unmarked; size 

 1.80 x 1.40. Data.-Ballston, N. Y., May 20, FPale bluish white]' 



1894. Five eggs in a nest of twigs and grass, on the ground in a marshy pas- 

 ture lot. Collector, Wm. McClair. 



332. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accipiter velox. 



Range. Whole of North America, wintering in the United States and south- 

 ward; breeds throughout its range but most 

 abundantly in northern United States and north- 

 ward. This is one of the smallest of the hawks 

 and in the adult plumage is a beautiful species, 

 being barred below with light brown, and having 

 a bluish slate back. It is a very spirited and dar- 

 ing bird and is one of the most destructive to 

 small birds and young chickens. Its nest is a 

 rude and sometimes very frail platform of twigs 

 and leaves placed against the trunk of the tree at 

 any height but averaging, perhaps, fifteen feet. 

 The eggs are bluish white, beautifully blotched 

 [Bluish white.] and spotted with shades of brown. Size 1.45x1.15. 



333. Cooper Hawk. 



Range. \Vhole of 



Accipiter cooperii. 



temperate North 



America, breeding throughout its range. 

 Although larger, (length 17 inches) the 

 plumage of this species is almost exactly 

 the same as that of the preceding. Like 

 the last, this is also a destructive species. 

 They construct their nests in the crotches 

 of trees, generally at quite a height from 

 the ground; the nest is made of sticks 

 and twigs, and often lined with pieces of 

 bark; occasionally an old Hawk's or Crow's 

 nest is used by the birds. Their eggs are 

 bluish white, unmarked or faintly spotted 

 with pale brown. Size 1.90 x 1.45. Data. 

 Galesburg, 111. April 16, 1891. Three eggs 

 in an old Crow's nest, made of sticks, lined 

 with corn husks; in large oak 50 feet from ground. 



[Bluish white.] 



Collector, F. C. Willanl. 



