MA RSH HA WK. 2 JS 



with fine lines of olive ; claws, horn colour. The weight of 

 this bird was twelve ounces. 



The female is much darker above ; the quills are nearly 

 black ; and the upper part of the breast is blotched with deep 

 blackish brown. 



It is worthy of remark, that, in all owls that fly by night, 

 the exterior edges and sides of the wing-quills are slightly 

 recurved, and end in fine hairs or points ; by which means 

 the bird is enabled to pass through the air with the greatest 

 silence, a provision necessary for enabling it the better to 

 surprise its prey. In the hawk owl now before us, which 

 flies by day, and to whom this contrivance would be of no 

 consequence, it is accordingly omitted, or at least is scarcely 

 observable. So judicious, so wise, and perfectly applicable 

 are all the dispositions of the Creator ! 



MARSH HAWK. {Falco uliginosus.) 



PLATE LI.— Pig. 2. 



Edw. iv. 291.— Lath. i. 90.— Arct. Zool. p. 208, No. 105.— Bartram, p. 290.— 

 Peale's Museum, No. 318. 



CIRCUS CYANEUS — Bechstein.* 

 Falco (sub-genus Circus), Bonap. Synop. p. 33. — Buteo (Circus) cyaneus ? var. 

 Americanus, North. Zool. ii. p. 55. 



A drawing of this hawk was transmitted to Mr Edwards, 

 more than fifty years ago, by Mr William Bartram, and 

 engraved in plate 291 of Edwards' " Ornithology." At that 

 time, and I believe till now, it has been considered as a species 

 peculiar to this country. 



I have examined various individuals of this hawk, both in 

 summer and in the depth of winter, and find them to corre- 

 spond so nearly with the ring- tail of Europe, that I have no 

 doubt of their being the same species. 



This hawk is most numerous where there are extensive 



* See note in Vol- III. accompanying description of the male. — Ed. 



