THE HAWKS OF NEW ENGLAND. 



599 



warblers, and the treetops are alive with these brilliantly colored 

 little fellows, the marsh hawks follow them and rise and dip 

 among the branches like swallows in a listless, careless manner, 

 striking with their long legs at whatever bird happens to be 

 nearest. They are very methodical in their way of hunting, and 

 day after day follow the same course, napping back to the nest 

 whenever successful. They nest on the ground in a swamp or 

 brier patch, and the young remain hidden about in the bushes, 

 where they are fed by the parents for months after they are able 

 to fly. All their cries are rather faint and hysterical, and they 

 always seem to be somewhat weak-minded ; still, they show con- 

 siderable intelligence at times, and appear to distinguish between 

 persons. I remember one pair that became quite friendly, and, 

 when I visited their nest, would light near me or hover close 

 over my head, even when I carried a gun ; but a neighbor of 

 mine, who accused them of stealing his chickens, complained 

 that they would not come within gunshot, even when he thought 

 himself well hidden. In color they vary from pale, bluish gray 

 to dark brown above, and from white to chestnut red underneath, 

 and are easily known by the large white patch on the back. They 

 are abundant from the last of March to November. 



For medium-sized hawks we have the peregrine falcon, Coop- 

 er's hawk, and the broad-winged hawk. The peregrine falcon is a 

 rather uncommon bird. I occasionally see them in the spring, 

 but not often. This 

 is the falcon par ex- 

 cellence vt the older 

 writers, and is said 

 to be the most dash- 

 ingly courageous of 

 all hawks. 



The broad-winged 

 hawk is also rare, 

 but less so than the 

 last ; he looks like a 

 heavy, owlish fel- 

 low, with broad, 

 rounded wings, and 

 a short tail that 



seems to be inserted between them. He is usually seen in frosty 

 October weather, and spends most of his time in the woods. 

 Cooper's hawk, or the chicken hawk, is plentiful enough : a slen- 

 der, compactly built bird, with a long tail, short wings, and fierce, 

 yellow eyes, steely blue or rich brown on the back, and white- 

 barred or streaked with reddish on the breast. He flies with tre- 

 mendous swiftness, and doesn't seem afraid to tackle anything. 



MARSH HAWK. 



