BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 75 



upon any kind of game except sometimes an occasional Reed bird, 

 gunners, who so industriously search over the swamps, never fail to 

 destroy every Marsh Hawk which comes within range of their deadly 

 weapons. 



Marsh Hawks never, to my knowledge, disturb poultry, but subsist- 

 mainly on field mice, other small quadrupeds, frogs, large insects and 

 sometimes, though not generally, small wild birds. In writing of the 

 food-habits, etc., of this species Nuttall says : *" It frequents chiefly, 

 open, low and marshy situations, over which it sweeps or skims along 

 at a little distance usually from the ground, in quest of mice, small 

 birds, frogs, lizards and other reptiles, which it often selects by twi- 

 light as well as in the open day ; and at times, pressed by hunger, it 

 joins the owls, and seeks out its prey even by moonlight.'' 



In fourteen examinations made by myself, seven hawks had only 

 field mice in their stomachs ; three, frogs ; two, small birds (warblers) ; 

 one, few feathers, apparently of a sparrow (Melospiza) and fragments 

 of insects; one, large number of grssshoppers with a small quantity 

 of hair, evidently that of a young rabbit. 



GENUS ACCIPITER. BRISSON. 

 332. Accipiter velox (Was.) 



Sharp-Shinned Hawk ; Partridge Hawk. 



DESCRIPTION. (Plate 14.} 



\ large female of this species measures about 14 inches in length by 26 inches in 

 extent. The male is smaller. In adult birds, especially the males, the plumage of 

 the upper parts is bluish-gray, quite dark on top of head. Iris in adult, reddish 

 orange, in young, light yellow. 



Hob. North America in general, south to Panama. 



This extremely daring and spirited little Hawk is one of the most 

 abundant of our North American species. In Pennsylvania during; 

 the early spring, autumn and winter it is quite plentiful, being fre- 

 quently met with in the mountainous and heavily wooded districts, as 

 well as the cultivated and rich agricultural regions. It is a native, 

 but as such, is somewhat rare. I have taken two nests, both built in 

 low cedar trees ; these nests were entirely constructed of small twigs, 

 and were loosely, but firmly, made. The cavity of one nest was quite 

 superficial, but that of the other was well-formed. The eggs each 

 nest contained five are deposited about the first of May. The eggs, 

 nearly spherical, are white or bluish-white, marked with large and 

 irregular splashes or blotches of brown, and measure about 1.46 by 

 1.16 inches. Gentry, a close observer and facile writer, remarks in 



* Ornithology of the United States and Canada, by Thomas Xuttall. 2 vols. Published 1832. 



