-2-2-2 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



Circus cyaneus, var. hudsonius, /./////. 



The Marsh Hawk has a very extensive distribution in 

 North America, and is known to breed from Hudson Hay 

 to Texas, and from Nova Scotia to the Pacific Coast. On 

 the plains of the Saskatchewan and Columbia Rivers, and 

 on the prairies of the Missouri, it has been found by different 

 parties. In fact, it is abundant wherever found, except in 

 the south-eastern parts of the United S rates. From the 

 Mississippi river towards the Pacific, it is an abundant 

 summer resident. Dr. Gundlach and others include it 

 among the migrants of Cuba ; Mr. Salvin found it a migra- 

 tory species in Guatemala. As an evidence of its roving 

 character, supposed specimens from the Philippine Islands 

 and from Kamtschatka, are in the Leyden Museum. This 

 is highly probable, as birds could have readily reached the 

 latter place, by way of north-western America. 



In Eastern Pennsylvania this species is tolerably abundant 

 in the marshes along the Delaware River. Occasionally, 

 individuals stray inward for a distance of several miles, 

 and are constant visitors at the/ larger marshes, especially 

 in secluded situations, where they can ply their gastronomic 

 business without fear of human intrusion or interference. 

 When surprised, however, they manifest but little fear, and 

 unlike many of the higher species, retire to a short distance, 

 when they alight either upon an exposed tree-branch, or 

 upon a tussock of grasses or sedges. Though somewhat 

 fearless of man, it cannot lay claim to much spirit of bold- 

 ness ; in the absence of which trait, there is noticeable a 

 marked diiTerence from the Accipitcr^. With a physiognomy 

 somewhat owl-like in character, reenforced by the peculiar 

 soft texture of the plumage, it is not at all surprising that the 

 character of the Harrier should be only a partial counterpart 

 of that of the Stri^'nhc. This analogy is particularly notice- 

 able in the manner of flight, capture of prey, and in the 

 absence of less than the ordinary amount of pugnacity and 



