BIRDS OF PREY 185 



struction are generally dry twigs and sticks loosely woven 

 together. The cavity may be bare or hned with small vines, 

 leaves, or dry saw grass. 



" Its food, as far as known, consists exclusively of fresh- 

 water univalve mollusks, which it finds among the water 

 plants at the edges of shallow lakes and rivers or the over- 

 flowed portions of the Everglades." 



MARSH HAWK 



The Marsh Hawk, or Marsh Harrier, as this species is 

 frequently called, ranges throughout North America and 

 south to Panama, frequenting open stretches. In none of 

 our hawks or falcons do the sexes exhibit a greater differ- 

 ence in plumage than in this species. The female is slightly 

 larger than her mate, and her feathers are dark brown mar- 

 gined with several lighter shades. The male is light pearly 

 gray, with bright yellow feet and legs. The unerring field 

 mark is a white patch on rump. The legs are exceptionally 

 long and the wings are broad, enabling the birds to fly up 

 and down our water-courses in a manner more in keeping 

 with that of a tern or gull. 



The food consists largely of mice, small reptiles, and 

 large insects. The birds are comparatively harmless to both 

 the farmer and poultryman, and they are among our most 

 valuable birds of prey. 



During the mating season, in May, the males perform 

 evolutions in the air, turning somersaults, accompanied with 

 screeching. 



In both dry and wet places, dead rushes, grass, and a 



