MARSH HAWK 127 



inches across, made of dead birch twigs around and a 

 pitch pine plume or two, and sedge grass at bottom, 

 with a small cavity in the middle. 



The female was shot and eggs taken on the 16th ; 

 yet here was the male, hovering anxiously over the spot 

 and neighborhood and scolding at us. Betraying him- 

 self from time to time by that peculiar clacking note 

 reminding you of a pigeon woodpecker. We thought it 

 likely that he had already got another mate and a new 

 nest near by. He would not quite withdraw though fired 

 at, but still would return and circle near us. They are 

 said to find a new mate very soon. 



July 3, 1860. Looked for the marsh hawk's nest (of 

 June 16th) in the Great Meadows.* It was in the very 

 midst of the sweet-gale (which is three feet high), oc- 

 cupying an opening only a foot or two across. We had 

 much difficulty in finding it again, but at last nearly 

 stumbled on to a young hawk. There was one as big 

 as my fist, resting on the bare, flat nest in the sun, 

 with a great head, staring eyes, and open gaping or 

 panting mouth, yet mere down, grayish-white down, as 

 yet ; but I detected another which had crawled a foot 

 one side amid the bushes for shade or safety, more than 

 half as large again, with small feathers and a yet more 

 angry, hawk-like look. How naturally anger sits on the 

 young hawk's head ! It was 3.30 P. M., and the old 

 birds were gone and saw us not. Meanwhile their callow 

 young lie panting under the sweet-gale and rose bushes 

 in the swamp, waiting for their parents to fetch them 

 food. 



^ [This was another nest than that described under May 29.] 



