MARSH HAWK. 283 



DIMENSIONS. 



specimen-* fr.nn Eastern Unitr'l States. Length, 19'00; stretch, 40'00; wing, 13'50; tail, 

 7-50: Sill. !>!); 'ur-a-i. sJ'HO. Lonir.-st s|"'iin;'u. 'J,t IU: greatest extent <>( wing. l-'-lKI; lonui-st wins, IS'OO; mil. !HX); bill, 

 1 00: tarsus, 3 00. Shortest specimen, IS'OO; smallest extent of wins, 41 '(Hi; .-honest wing, 14'90; tail, 8-00; bill, '80; tar- 



suv, J-NI. 



Au'nigr mrasurrmi-nts offriiiiile specimens. Length, 23'00; stretch, 45-50; wing, 13'00;tail, 8'5(); bill, TOO; tarsus, 3 

 25. LoiigiM -prelim i), 21'00; greatest extent of wing, 48 00; longest wing. l;V50: tail, lo-OO; bill, MO; tarsus, 3'50. Short- 

 mi 'u, -J-J (H); smallest extent of wing, 43-50, ihortert wing, 14-50; tail, !)'00; bill, '90; tarsus, 3'00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on the ground or near it. They are not very bulky structures and are composed of sticks, twigs, weeds, 

 etc., linrcl with gra^s ainl Icaxcs. 



Eyys. f'ur to six in nu'iibcr. rntlier oval in form, greenish-white in color, either immaculate or faintly spotted with pale 

 brown or lilac. Dimensions from 1'4'Jx 1'80 to r45sl'88. 



HABITS. 



The Hawks, now under consideration, have been rightly named as far as the appella- 

 tion by which they are commonly known, is concerned, for it will be difficult to find a 

 m.-trsli, either salt or fresh, of any extent, which is not more or less hunted over by these 

 birds. It makes but little difference as to the situation of these low-lying tracts of coun- 

 try so Itin;^ as they form the homes of mice, small birds, frogs, or even snakes, for the pres- 

 ence of any of these animals is sufficient to induce the Marsh Hawks to visit the sections 

 in which they occur, in order to prey upon them. Thus they may be seen hovering over 

 the cold, heath-covered bogs in the far north, searching for mice or small birds; they are 

 common along the fresh water meadows of New England, are abundant in the middle dis- 

 tricts, and 1 airly swarm among the rice fields and along the rivers of the Carolinas and 

 (jeoruia, extending their range even to the vast savannas of Southern Florida, in all of 

 which places the abundant mammalian, avian, and reptilian life offers them an ample and 

 varied diet. 



Thus it will be seen that all sections are alike to the Marsh Hawks and scarcely any 

 thin.u- that has life, comes amiss to them by the way of food. Perhaps I ought to have 

 said, however, any thing that lives or has lived, for these Hawks will not only eat mice, 

 small birds, frogs, snakes, or insects, which they catch and kill, but will also eat dead ani- 

 mals. On several occasions, I have known of them eating Ducks which have been killed 

 by gunners, or some animal, and either lost or abandoned. The Marsh Hawks are, as a 

 rule, not very bold but I unce knew an exception to this and, while in Florida, some years 

 ago, repeatedly saw one nf -hese birds rob a Peregrine Falcon of Ducks which it had cap- 

 tured. This appears almost incredible but I was once quite near when the Marsh Hawk 

 took possession of the booty of the Falcon that was sitting on the ground, and I distinctly 

 saw the latter givi up his prey, almost without a struggle, to the venturesome Hawk which 

 coolly he-ail to eat it, utterly disregarding the screams of the Falcon that was darting about 

 a few yards above him. Nor would he quit his meal until I had approached quite near, 

 when he Hew reluctantly away. On the two occasions when I took the trouble to exam- 

 ine tlie half-eaten Duck, I found that it was a Scaup, a species which was to heavy for 

 eithej- the Falcon or Hawk to carry away with ease; therefore they were obliged to leav- 

 it when attacked and .vhcn surprised. 



