CIRCUS CYANEUS VAR, HUDSONIUS, MARSH HAWK. 329 



ject of speciulation than we are now likely to discover it to be. Since 

 mere opinions in such cases usually seem more valuable to theiy au- 

 thors than others find them, it is the more to be regretted that siience 

 requires us to disagree with the wit who met the objection that facts 

 did not support his theory, by remarking, so much the worse for the 

 facts. So far from agreeing respectiug the natural affinities of the 

 Marsh Hawk, ornithologists have not succeeded in agreeing upon a 

 name for it. If one will collate the synonyms of the species, he must be 

 prepared to contemplate a great license ornithology has taken iu the 

 manufacture of nominal species. Ornithology wears a histrionic mask, 

 never wholly laid aside ; and has its comic aspect, which becomes promi- 

 nent when we see what is often said about birds — how many parts they 

 are made to play in books, for which nature never designed them, 

 when we note their appearance in different characters at the hands of 

 successive literary costumers. After the play of birds, to which authors 

 invite us, is over, it is well, sometimes, to go into the woods and fields 

 with the birds, and see how they look with their dominos off. 



It is sufflcieut for my present purpose to state, that the Marsh Hawk 

 combines, to a notable degree, the characters of several raptoriiil types, 

 being, in particular, a link between Hawks and Owls ; and that our 

 bird is a geographical variety of the European. These facts established, 

 the theories that might be based ui)OU them may be disregarded. 

 Audubon's j.late is a good portrait of the bird. It has a queer owlish 

 physiognomy, produced by the shape of the head, and especially by the 

 ruff of modified feathers, which, in its higher development, is character- 

 istic of the Strigidce. This analogy is strengthened by a peculiar soft 

 texture of the plumage. Yet the bird is not in the least degree noctur- 

 nal, as some of the Buzzards are to a certain extent. In its general 

 habits and structure, the Harrier is allied to ordinary Buzzards ; yet its 

 long wings and tail are nearer those of Hawks of the genus Accijuter, 

 birds whose spirit, however, it lacks. Its changes of plumage and sex- 

 ual differences are peculiar. It differs from most Hawks in its mode of 

 nesting. Briefly, then, birds of the genus Circus look like Owls, behave 

 like Buzzards, nest like Vultures, and change color like no other birds 

 of the group to which they belong. 



The terrestrial nidiflcatiou of this bird, in which it stands apart from 

 its kind and approaches the Cathartes, is well known ; but accounts of 

 the nesting are at variance in detail. Some say that the nest is built 

 of "sticks, reeds, straw, leaves, and similar materials heaped together, 

 and is lined with feathers, hair, or other soft substances" — a statement 

 too comprehensive to be successfully attacked. Such a nest would be 

 so comfortable that it is a wonder the birds have not the good taste to 

 use it. It has been said, again, that the only materials used " were 

 dried grasses, which were woven together rather neatly." To this state- 

 ment exception is taken by a writer whose science is better than his 

 grammar, in this wise : " I should doubt the power they possess in so 

 combining the materials of their nest as to cause them to appear to be 

 woven. In many instances they merely trample down the grass iu the 

 meadow, and luy their eggs on the bare turf; and when they pretend 

 to build a nest, it will not compare in architecture with that of the com- 

 mon hen." This is rather severe on the Marsh Hav,k, though probably 

 true. But Audubon speaks of a nest that he saw : " It was made of dry 

 grass, * * * * pretty regularly and compactly disposed, especially 

 in the interior,' on which much care appeared to be bestowed. No 

 feathers or other materials had been used in its construction, not even 

 a twig." This account of Audubon's applies very nearly to the only 



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