VIII 

 HAWKS AND EAGLES 



MARSH HAWK ; FROG HAWK ; HEN-HARRIER 



April 24, 1852. The sparrows, frogs, rabbits, etc., 

 are made to resemble the ground for their protection ; 

 but so is the hawk that preys on them ; but he is of a 

 lighter color beneath, that creeping things over which 

 he hovers may confound him with the sky. The marsh 

 hawk is not easily distinguished from the meadow or 

 the stems of the maples. 



July 29, 1853. I see three or four (apparently) 

 young marsh hawks, but full grown, circling and tum- 

 bling about not much above the ground and playing with 

 one another. They are quite a reddish brown. They ut- 

 ter a squeak (not a shrill scream), much like a small 

 bird or animal. 



April 23, 1855. See a frog hawk beating the bushes 

 regularly. What a peculiarly formed wing! It should 

 be called the kite. Its wings are very narrow and 

 pointed, and its form in front is a remarkable curve, 

 and its body is not heavy and buzzard-like. It occasion- 

 ally hovers over some parts of the meadow or hedge and 

 circles back over it, only rising enough from time to 

 time to clear the trees and fences. 



May 14, 1855. See a male hen-harrier skimming low 

 along the side of the river, often within a foot of the 

 muddy shore, looking for frogs, with a very compact 



