North American Birds Eggs. 



157 



331. Marsh Hawk. Circus hu(h(miii>i. 



Rant;e. — Whole of North America, very abundant in all sections. 



The aduh of this species is very liglit colored, and young birds of 

 two years have a reddish brown coloration: in 

 both plumages the species is easily identified 

 by the white patch on the rump. They are, 

 almost exclusively, frequenters of fields and 

 marshes, where they can most often be seen, 

 towards dusk, swooping in broad curves near 

 the ground, watching for field mice, which fcjrm 

 the larger portion of their diet. Their nests are 

 made in swampy ground, often in the middle 

 of a large marsh, being placed on the ground in 

 the centre of a hummock or clump of grass: it 

 is generally well lined with grasses and often 

 rushes. They lay from four to seven pale 

 bluish white eggs, generally unmarked; size 

 1..SU X 1.40. Data.— Ballston, N. Y., May 20, -n 

 18il4. Five eggs in a nest of twigs and grass, on 

 tare lot. C^ollector, Wm. McClair. 



the first 



_ fPale bluish white! din 

 the ground in a marshy pas- 



332. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Afcipitrr vrlnx. 



Range. — Whole of North America, wintering in the Fnited States anti south- 

 ward; breeds throughout its range but most 

 abundantly in northern United States and north- 

 ' -^ ~~ ward. This is one of tlie smallest of the hawks 



and in the adult plumage is a lieautiful species, 

 being barred below with light brown, and having 

 a bluish slate back. It is a very spirited and dar- 

 ing liird and is one of the most destructive to 

 small birds and young chickens. Its nest is a 

 rude and sometimes very frail platform of twigs ^=^njr^f^ 

 and leaves placed against the trunk of the tree at 'i■.J_^^'^•^ 

 any height but averaging, perhaps, fifteen feet. 

 The eggs arc bluish white, beautifully blotched 

 and spotted with shades of brown. Size 1.45x1.15. 



^^\ 



■■:,t 



luish white.) 



333. 



ArciiiUrr riHtprrii. 



Cooper Hawk 



Range.— Whole of temperate North 

 America, breeding throughout its range. 



Although larger, (length 17 inches) the 

 plumage 'of this species is almost exactly 

 the same as that of the preceding. Like 

 the last, this is also a destructive species. 

 Thev construct their nests in the crotches 

 of trees, generally at quite a height from 

 the ground: the "nest is made of sticks 

 and tw-igs, and often lined with pieces of 

 bark; occasionallv an old Hawk's or Crow's 

 nest is used bv the birds. Their eggs are 

 bluish white, unmarked or faintly spotted 

 with pale brown. Size l.UO x 1.45. Data.— 

 Galesburg, 111. April 16, hSOl. Threeeggs 

 in an old Crow's nest, made of sticks, lined 

 with corn husks; in large oak 50 feet from grount 



dihiish white. 

 Cullector, F. C. Willard. 



