SPECIES 16. FALCO ULIGINOSUS* 



MARSH HAWK, 



[Plate LI. Fig. 1.] 



EDW. iv, 291. LATH, i, 90. Jlrct. Zool p. 208, JVo. 105. 

 BARTRAM, p. 290. PE ALE'S Museum. JYU 318. 



A DRAWING of this Hawk was transmitted to Edwards more 

 than fifty years ago, by Mr. William Bartram, and engraved 

 in Plate 291 of Edwards' Natural History. At that time, and 

 I believe till now, it has been considered as a species peculiar 

 to this country. 



I have examined various individuals of this Hawk, both in 

 summer and in the depth of winter, and find them to corres- 

 pond so nearly with the Ring-tail of Europe, that I have no 

 doubt of their being the same species, t 



This Hawk is most numerous where there are extensive mea- 

 dows and salt marshes, over which it sails very low, making 

 frequent circuitous sweeps over the same ground, in search of 

 a species of mouse, figured in Plate 50, and very abundant in 

 such situations. It occasionally flaps the wings, but is most com- 

 monly seen sailing about within a few feet of the surface. They 

 are usually known by the name of the Mouse-Hawk along the 

 coast of New Jersey, where they are very common. Several 

 were also brought me last winter from the meadows below Phi- 

 ladelphia. Having never seen its nest, I am unable to describe 

 it from my own observation. It is said, by European writers, 



* Falco pygargus, LINK. 



f Tliis opinion of Wilson's is in accordance with that of some recent orni- 

 thologists. We add the following Synonymes: F. cyaneus, GMEL. Syst. i, p. 

 '276. LATH. Ind. orn. p. 39. Ring-tail, PEXN. Brit. Zool. i, p. 194, No. 59. 

 Hen Harrier, Id. p. 193. No. 58. F. pygargus, LINN. Syst. i, p. 89, No. 9, ed. 

 10. Circus //uJsoniws, VIEIL. Oisde 1'Am. Sept. i, p. 36, pi. 9. Busard Saint- 

 Martin, TKMM. Man. d'Oni. i, p. 72. 



