350 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



This sturdy little kite, with its quick flight and graceful form and 

 motions, has much the appearance of a falcon, but its weak bill and 

 talons give it an un-falcon-like character and mode of life. Its prey, 

 instead of being birds and mammals, is mainly of such low order as 

 insects, snakes, and frogs, and its hunting consequently lacks the 

 excitement of the chase. It is seen flying low over the prairies 

 among the brush patches, or going from tree to tree along the 

 streams. VERNON BAILEY. 



GENUS CIRCUS. 



331. Circus hudsonius (Linn.). MARSH HAWK. 



Bill with conspicuous bristles ; face encircled by an owl-like ruff of short 

 feathers ; tarsus slender, much longer than middle toe and claw ; a basal 

 web between middle and outer toes ; claws large and sharp, much curved ; 

 four outer primaries cut out on inner webs, second to fifth on outer webs. 

 Adult male : body bluish slate, streaked with white and becoming pure 

 white on rump and belly ; under parts lightly specked with reddish brown ; 

 tail with 6 or 8 bands, one nearest end widest and blackest ; tips of wing 

 black. Adult female and young : brown or rusty, more or less streaked. 

 Length: 19.50-24.00, wing 12.90-16.00, tail 8.80-10.50. 



Remarks. The facial ruff and large white rump patch are enough to 

 distinguish the marsh hawk in any plumage. 



Distribution. Breeds from Alaska and Hudson Bay to the southern 

 border of the United States and winters from about latitude 40 southward 

 to Panama and Cuba. 



Nest. Usually in a marsh or prairie on the ground among rushes, grass, 

 or bushes, made of dry grass strengthened with sticks and lined sparsely 

 with feathers. Eggs : generally 4 to 6, pale greenish or bluish white, plain, 

 or blotched and spotted with pale buff and brownish. 



Food. Largely meadow mice, young squirrels, rabbits, and ground 

 squirrels ; also lizards, frogs, snakes, birds, and insects. 



Marsh hawk and mouse hawk are both appropriate names for these 

 soft-winged still-hunters. Fields, marshes, and prairies are their 

 hunting grounds, and you may see them sailing slowly and smoothly 

 just above the surface of the grass tops, with round owl-like face 

 and large eyes turned to the ground beneath, and wings ready for a 

 quick dive. Woe to the mouse or gopher that moves in the grass 

 under those eyes ! Birds are not such easy prey, and few are cap- 

 tured except wounded game birds. Broken-winged quail, grouse, 

 or ducks are not left to suffer long. They are quickly discovered 

 and eaten. 



The intelligent farmer usually recognizes the value of this hawk 

 and the fact that it almost never touches his poultry. He sees it 

 skimming over his meadows and diving into the grass for mice, and 

 wisely lets it live ; but nevertheless he would be surprised if he 

 could figure out how many dollars it saves him during the year. 



VERNON BAILEY. 



