26 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



able localities through the middle and southern parts of the State. 

 When the bird has captured one of these moUusks it flies to the nearest 

 perch and removes the meat from the shell with apparent ease and with- 

 out injuring the latter. While collecting food it often secures Ave or 

 six before returning to the nest, keeping in its gullet the parts it has 

 extracted for the young. 



So far as at present known the Everglade Kite can not be said to 

 have any economic value, since the moUusk, which appears to consti- 

 tute its sole food, does not seem to be in any way injurious. If not 

 positively beneficial, however, it at least may be claimed for this kite 

 that it does absolutely no injury to man, and consequently should never 

 be wantonly destroyed. 



By the first of March, or in some cases a little sooner, it begins to 

 build. The nest is usually situated in some low bush or among a dense 

 growth of saw grass, rarely if ever more than a couple of feet above 

 the water. It is a flat structure, often composed of small sticks loosely 

 placed together and sometimes receives an incomplete lining of dry saw 

 grass. The eggs are two or three in number, two being more common. 

 It is a very unsuspicious bird and may be approached easily while on a 

 perch, or may pass within close range of a person as it beats over the 

 meadows. Its flight is said to resemble more closely that of the Marsh 

 Hawk than that of any other of the rapacious birds. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Upper part of bill forming a slender lengthened hook. Five outer 

 wing feathers cut out on the inner web. 



Color: Uniform slate color, becoming nearly black on outer wing 

 feathers and tail; head and neck with more or less of a chalky cast; 

 base of tail and feathers covering it, white. 



Length: 16 to 18 inches (406 to 457 """); extent, 44 to 46 inches 

 (1L17 to 1168 ""»); wing, 12.90 to 14.25 inches (328 to 362 ">-»); tail, 

 7.20 to 8,50 inches (182 to 216 ■"™). 



MARSH HAWK. 



Circus hudsonius. 

 [Plate 3— Aclnlt male, immatnTe female.] 



This well-known hawk inhabits the whole of North America, breed- 

 ing north to Alaska and the fur countries, and wintering from about lati- 

 tude 40° N., southward to Panama and Cuba. A representative species 

 (Circus cyaneus) occurs throughout most of temperate Europe and Asia 

 wintering in the more southern portions as well as in northern Africa. 



The Marsh Hawk breeds in suitable localities everywhere from the 

 southern border of the United States to the northern limits of its range 

 but is most common through the prairie country of the West. In the 



