416 ZOOLOGY— BIRDS. 



CIRCUS CYANEUS (Linu.), var. HUDSONIUS, Liuii. 

 marsh Hawk. 



Falco hudsonius, Linn., Syst. Nat., 1706,, 128. 



Circus hudsonius, Newb., P. R. R. Rep., vi, 1857, 74. — Bd., P. R. R. Rep., Beckwitu's 

 Route, x, 1857, 12.— Kennerly, P. R. R. Rep., Whipple's Route, x, 1859, 

 19.— Bd., U. S. & Mex. Bouud. Surv., ii, pt. ii, 1859, Birds, 4.— Heerm., P. 

 R. R. Rep., x, pt. iv, 1S59, 33.— Xantus, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila,, 1859, 

 190 (Fort Tejon, Cal.).— Henry, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1859, 105 (New 

 Mexico). — Coop. & Suckl., P. R. R. Rep., xii, pt. ii, 1800, 150. — Hayd., 

 Trans. Am. Phil. Soc, xii, 1862, 153.— Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila., 

 1S0G, 49.— Stev., U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., 1870, 402.— Snow, Birds Kan., 

 1872, 4.— Merriam, U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., 1872, 098.— Yarrow, Rep. 

 Orn. Specs., 1871, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 36. 



Circus eyaneus var. hudsonius, Allen, Bull. Mas. Coinp. Zool., 1872, 181. — Coues, 

 Key N. A. Birds, 1872, 210.— Bd., Brew., & Ridg., N. A. Birds, Hi, 1874, 

 214. — Yarrow & Henshaw, Rep. Orn. Specs., 1872, Wheeler's Exped., 

 1874, 20.— Allen, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat, Iiist., June, 1874, 18, 34.— Coues, 

 Birds Northwest, 1874, 327. 



Circus eyaneus, WooDn., Sitgreave's Exp. Zuiii & Col. Riv., 1854, 61. 



In Utah, this species was observed at many points in the lowland dis- 

 tricts ; while, near Utah Lake, their numbers were scarcely less than were 

 the Rough-legged Hawks. They were seen at all hours of the day, sweeping 

 over the marshes, where they just clear the tops of the tall grasses, turning 

 cpiickly in and out of the reedy recesses in search of mice and gophers, 

 which, when obtainable, constitute the major part of its food. When urged 

 by hunger, it may attack birds ; and I once remember to have been robbed 

 of a Widgeon, I had killed and kept lying in the water, by one of these birds; 

 but generally they confine their attacks to the humblest kind of game, 

 which possesses neither the strength to enable them to resist, nor the activity 

 to evade the sudden descent of their winged enemy. 



A common hawk in Arizona and New Mexico, but here, as elsewhere, 

 confined rather exclusively to the vicinity of marshes and water courses. I 

 noticed many on the creeks about Camp Grant, where they were remarka- 

 bly tame and unsuspicious, passing by within easy gunshot when intent in 

 coursing for their prey, as though utterly indifferent to the presence of man. 



