394 THE MARSH HAWK. 



General Range. United States, especially in the interior, from the Carolinas 

 and Minnesota southward, throughout Central and South America ; westward to 

 the Great Plains. Casual eastward to southern New England, and northward to 

 Manitoba and Assiniboia. Breeding range irregularly coincident with general 

 distribution in the United States. Accidental in England. 



Range in Ohio. Formerly abundant. Now rare and casual. Two records 

 since 1858. 



NOTHING can compensate us for the loss of this exceedingly graceful 

 and highly beneficial bird, or atone for the criminal stupidity which has 

 decreed the extermination of it simply because of its size and hawk-like 

 appearance. Poultry raising is an important business, and requires rigid 

 protection, but more ornithological crimes have been committed in its name 

 than in that of any other, save fashion. The Swallow-tailed Kite feeds 

 largely upon snakes, lizards, toads, and insects the latter caught almost 

 exclusively upon the wing. In the South it renders inestimable service 

 through the destruction of the cotton worm. On the other hand, it has never 

 been known to molest poultry, altho its chance appearance above a chicken 

 coop naturally causes undiscriminating fowls some needless alarm. 



Described by Wilson as abundant on the extensive prairies of Ohio and 

 the Indian Territory, it has rapidly decreased in numbers until now it is only 

 "accidental." In 1838, Dr. Kirtland noted its failure to appear in its accus- 

 tomed haunts in Portage and Stark Counties. In 1858, Mr. Karkpatrick noted 

 its decrease in Crawford County, but says "Occasionally a specimen may be 

 found there still." In 1878 a specimen, killed in Licking County, was pre- 

 sented to Dr. Wheaton. In 1898, Rev. W. F. Henninger records the cap- 

 ture of a last specimen near Chillicothe. Sic transit gloria coeli. 



No. 176. 



MARSH HAWK. 



A. O. U. N. 331. Circus hudsonius (Linn.). 



Synonym. MARSH HARRIER. 



Description. Adult male : Head and neck all around, chest, and upper parts 

 light bluish gray or ashy, the hind head darker, with much partially concealed 

 white, and tinged with ochraceous ; five outer primaries mostly black ; upper 

 tail-coverts pure white ; tail silvery gray, barred irregularly with blackish, the 

 subterminal band largest, tipped with whitish, the inner webs whitish or rusty- 

 tinged; remaining under parts, including under side of wing (except terminal 

 third of primaries), white, the belly, flanks and tibiae sparsely spotted or barred 

 with rufous or pale dusky, and the lining of the wing with a few dusky spots and 

 bars ; wings, tail, and shanks, greatly lengthened ; tip of wing formed by third 



