MARSH HAWK. 27 



case of a species of such extended distribution the time of nesting is 

 very variable. Thus while in Texas the eggs are to be found by the 

 latter part of April, in the fur countries it is the middle of June before 

 they are deposited. 



The nest is always placed on the ground, usually in a marsh or prairie 

 grown up with tall rushes, grass, or bushes, and not far from water. 

 It is commonly situated at the base of a bush, or, in localities subject 

 to inundation, on the top of a tussock. It is composed chiefly of dry 

 grass loosely thrown together and strengthened by the incorporation of 

 a few dead sticks, and as a finishing touch a sparse lining of feathers is 

 added. When the same site is used for several years in succession the 

 accumulated mass of material often forms a platform of considerable 

 size. 



The number of eggs in a set is usually from four to six, though as 

 many as eight have been found. As with most of the hawks, the period 

 of incubation is nearly four weeks. The male assists the female in the 

 construction of the nest, in incubating the eggs, and in procuring food 

 for the young. During the period in which the young are being fed the 

 male often drops the food to the female from a considerable height, as 

 he passes near the nest, she darting upward and catching it before it 

 reaches the ground. 



This hawk is very zealous in protecting its young from intruders and 

 has been known to attack persons or dogs who have entered its domain. 

 After the young are reared and leave the nest they remain together, 

 and as fall advances several families unite and migrate southward. 

 Hence it is not unusual to see forty or fifty individuals at one time scat- 

 tered over the more extensive marshes. 



Though the flight of this hawk lacks the elegance of some of the 

 other species, it is well sustained and often protracted. When the bird 

 is beating back and forth over the meadows in search of food the flight 

 is easy, regular, but not rapid, and resembles closely that of some of 

 the herons. In the spring the male sometimes goes through a series of 

 aerial evolutions which are highly amusing. While at a considerable 

 altitude it throws its wings over its back, and falling several yards 

 turns over and over much like a tumbler pigeon until near the ground, 

 when it ascends rapidly again to repeat the performance. 



When prey is discovered the hawk poises for a moment over the 

 spot and then drops quickly on it, and if unsuccessful is sure to beat 

 over the same place before leaving. It generally devours its quarry 

 on or near the spot where captured, instead of carrying it away. Its 

 food consists largely of small rodents, such as meadow mice, half- 

 grown squirrels, rabbits, and spermophiles or ground squirrels. In 

 fact, so extensively does it feed on the last-named animals that the 

 writer rarely has examined a stomach from the West which did not 

 contain their remains. In addition to the above it preys upon lizards, 

 frogs, snakes, insects, and birds; of the latter, the smaller ground- 



