446 MARSH HAWK. 
surface. They are usually known by the name of the Mouse Hawk 
along the sea-coast of New Jersey, where they are very common. 
Several were also brough, me last winter from the meadows below 
Philadelphia. Having never seen its nest, I am unable to describe it 
from my own observation. It is said, by European writers, to build 
on the ground, or on Jow limbs of trees. Mr. Pennant observes, that 
it sometimes changes to a rust colored variety, except on the rump 
and tail. It is found, as was to be expected, at Hudson’s Bay, being 
native in both this latitude and that of Britain. We are also informed 
that it is common in the open and temperate parts of Russia and 
Siberia; and extends as far as Lake Baikal, though it is said not to be 
found in the north of Europe.* 
The Marsh Hawk is twenty-one inches long, and three feet eleven 
inches in extent; cere and legs, yellow, the former tinged with 
green, the latter long and slender ; nostril, large, triangular ; this and 
the base of the bill, thickly covered with strong, curving haits, that rise 
from the space between the eye and bill, arching over the base of the 
bill and cere; this is a particular characteristic ; bill, blue, black at 
the end; eye, dark hazel; cartilage overhanging the eye, and also 
the eyelid, bluish green; spot under the eye, and line from the front. 
over it, brownish white ; head above and back, dark glossy chocolate 
brown, the former slightly seamed with bright ferruginous ; scapulars, 
spotted with the same under the surface ; lesser coverts and band of 
the wing, here and there edged with the same; greater coverts and 
primaries, tipped with whitish ; quills, deep brown at the extreme half, 
some.of the outer ones hoary on the exterior edge ; all the primaries, 
yellowish white on the inner vanes and upper half, also barred on the 
inner vanes with black; tail, long, extending three inches beyond the 
wings, rounded at the end, and of a pale sorel color, crossed by four 
broad bars of very dark brown, the two middle feathers excepted, 
which are barred with deep and lighter shades of chocolate brown; 
chin, pale ferruginous; round the neck, a collar of bright rust color; 
breast, belly, and vent, pale rust, shafted with brown; femorals, long, 
tapering, and of the same pale rust tint; legs, feathered near an inch 
below, the knee. This was a female. The male differs chiefly in 
being rather lighter, and somewhat less. 
This Hawk is particularly serviceable to the rice-fields of the 
Southern States, by the havock it makes among the clouds of. Rice 
Buntings that spread such devastation among that grain, in its early 
stage. As it sails low and swiftly over the surface of the field, it keeps 
the flocks in perpetual fluctuation, and greatly interrupts their depreda- 
tions. The planters consider one Marsh Hawk to be equal to several 
negroes for alarming the Rice Birds. Formerly the Marsh Hawk 
used to be numerous along the Schuylkill and Delaware, during the 
time the reeds were ripening, and the Reed Birds abundant ; but they 
have of late years become less numerous here. 
Mr. Pennant considers the “strong, thick, and short legs” of this 
species, as specific distinctions from the Ring-tailed Hawk ; the legs, 
however, are long and slender ; and a Marsh Hawk such as he has 
described, with strong, thick, and short legs, is nowhere to oe found 
in #-e United States. 
* PaLtas, as quoted by Pennant. 
