112 MARSH HAWK. 



to build on the ground, or on low limbs of trees. Pennant ob- 

 serves, that, it sometimes changes to a rust-coloured variety, 

 except on the rump and tail. It is found, as was to be expected, 

 at Hudson's Bay, being native in both this latitude and that of 

 Britain. We are also informed that it is common in the open 

 and temperate parts of Russia and Siberia; and extends as far 

 as lake Baikal, though it is said not to be found in the north of 

 Europe. * 



The Marsh Hawk is twenty-one inches long, and three feet 

 eleven inches in extent; cere and legs yellow, the former ting- 

 ed with green, the latter long and slender; nostril large, trian- 

 gular, this, and the bj^e of the bill, thickly covered with strong 

 curving hairs, that rise from the space between the eye and bill, 

 arching over the base of the bill and cere this is a particular 

 characteristic; bill blue, black at the end; eye dark hazel; carti- 

 lage overhanging the eye, and also the eyelid, bluish green; 

 spot under the eye, and line from the front over it, brownish 

 white; head above, and back, dark glossy chocolate brown, the 

 former slightly seamed with bright ferruginous; scapulars spot- 

 ted with the same, under the surface; lesser coverts, and band 

 of the wing, here and there edged with the same; greater cov- 

 erts and primaries tipt with whitish; quills deep brown at the 

 extreme half, some of the outer ones hoary on the exterior 

 edge; all the primaries yellowish white on the inner vanes and 

 upper half, also barred on the inner vanes with black; tail long, 

 extending three inches beyond the wings, rounded at the end, 

 and of a pale sorrel colour, crossed by four broad bars of very 

 dark brown, the two middle feathers excepted, which are bar- 

 red with deep and lighter shades of chocolate brown; chin pale 

 ferruginous; round the neck a collar of bright rust colour; breast, 

 belly and vent, pale rust, shafted with brown; femorals long, 

 tapering, and of the same pale rust tint; legs feathered near an 

 inch below the knee. This was a female. The male differs chief- 

 ly in being rather lighter, and somewhat less. 



* Pallas, as quoted by Pennant. 



