BIRDS OF FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA 27 



being flushed, flew about overhead uttering cries like the syllable "ki" re- 

 peated five or six times in series, which is similar to the cries of the male. 

 This nest was about three inches off the ground, among rank rose-bushes, 

 and was made of coarse weed-stems, lined with softer dried grass. The 

 cavity was seven inches across, and one and one-half inches deep. The 

 eggs are very pale greenish blue, unmarked. 



On May 30, 1903, I found a nest of the marsh hawk iu a weed-patch 

 on Big Casino about four miles from Lewistown. It was made of soft dried 

 grass, the heap being ten inches across and two inches high. The cavity 

 was seven inches in diameter and one inch in depth. There were five 

 eggs in the nest, dirty white and soiled by the feet of the sitting bird, for 

 the eggs were far advanced in incubation. The male of this pair was one 

 of the handsomest hawks I ever saw, being in clear light blue plumage, 

 with prominent black wing markings. He was sitting on guard near the 

 nest, on the ground, and when I drew near the nest he flew overhead utter- 

 ing a cry consisting of the syllable "ka" with the a short, or like the syl- 

 lable "ke," in series of four or five. When the female was flushed, after 

 I was about six feet from her, she joined the male in flying overhead, ut- 

 tering a cry like "ki" or "ke" in series. When I left the place and had gone 

 some distance, the female settled on the nest as if the eggs were yet 

 there, and remained sitting as long as I had time to watch them. 



The aerial movements of this hawk are very interesting. In the 

 mating and early nesting season, when the male is passing above his 

 chosen one while she is sitting on the ground or brooding her eggs, he will 

 perform a series of wonderful evolutions, falling headforemost in space 

 until his back is underneath, or whirling over several times in a peculiar 

 side-movement, always promptly regaining his balance and repeating the 

 performance with suitable variations, perhaps thus tumbling and fluttering 

 in space for many minutes. 



Except for the first few days after its arrival from the south, it is 

 unusual to see this hawk sitting in a tree. It oftener sits on the ground, 

 stopping thus frequently as it quarters over the meadows. Especially when 

 the nest-site has been selected, and while the female is sitting, the male 

 spends many minutes at some convenient look-out on the ground near the 

 place. 



Distinguishing features: Upper parts light bluish gray; lower parts 

 chiefly white, marked with spots of varying brown; the chief distinguishing 

 mark is the white upper tail coverts which show plainly in flight; length 

 19-24 inches. 



332. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Accipiter velox. 



In this locality the sharp-shinned hawk manifests a somewhat retir- 

 ing disposition, keeping to the thickets along the water-courses, in which 

 it can find easy prey among the smaller birds that frequent the thickets, 

 and where it can rear its brood without molestation. Though not noted in 

 any abundance, it occurs regularly throughout this region, appearing to be 

 more common than Cooper's hawk. One June 6, 1900, I found a nest of this 

 hawk in a thicket along Big Spring Creek, near Lewistown. It was made 



