105 



Genus XL— CIRCUS, Bechst. HARRIER. 



Bill short, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping to 

 beyond the cere, then decnrved, the sides sloping*, the edge with a festoon a 

 little anterior to the nostril, the tip acute; lower mandible with the dorsal 

 line ascending and convex, the tip rounded. Nostrils large, ovato-oblong, 

 with an oblique ridge from their upper edge. Head of moderate size, oblong, 

 neck rather short; body slender. Legs long and slender; tarsi long, com- 

 pressed, anteriorly and posteriorly scutellate; toes slender, scutellate unless 

 at the base; claws long, compressed, moderately curved, flat beneath, acumi- 

 nate. Plumage very soft; a distinct ruff of narrow feathers from behind the 

 eye on each side to the chin, the aperture of the ear being very large. 

 Wings long, much rounded, the fourth quill longest; outer four quills with 

 their inner webs sinuate. Tail straight, long, slightly rounded. Quills and 

 tail feathers covered with velvety down. 



MARSH HAWK. 



f Circus cyaneus, Linn. 



PLATE XXVI. 



This species visits the greater part of the United States. Dr. Richardson 

 procured some specimens in latitude 65° north, and Mr. Townsend found 

 it on the plains of the Columbia River, as well as on the extensive prairies 

 bordering on the Missouri. I have met with it in Newfoundland and 

 Labrador on the one hand, in Texas on the other, and in every intermediate 

 portion of the country. 



The flight of the Marsh Hawk, although light and elegant, cannot be said 

 to be either swift or strong; but it is well sustained, and this may be 

 accounted for on comparing the small size and weight of its body with the 

 great extent of its wings and tail, which are proportionally larger than those 

 of any other American Hawk. While searching for prey, it performs most 

 of its rambles by rather irregular sailings; by which I mean that it frequently 

 deviates from a straight course, peeping hither and thither among the tall 

 grasses of the marshes, prairies, or meadows, or along the briary edges of 



Vol. I. 16 



