Species XVI. 
FALCO 
ULIGINOSSU* 
MARSH HAWK. 
[Plate LI. Fig. 1.] 
Edw. it., 291.— Lath, i., m.—Arrt. ZooJ. p. 208, No. 105.— B.vrtram, p. 200. 
A DRAAVIN(5 of this Hawk was transmitted to Edwards more than 
fifty years ago, by Mr. William Bartram, and engraved in Plate 291 
of Edwards' Natural History. At that time, and I believe till noAv, 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 correspond so nearly with 
the Ring-tail of Europe, that I have no doubt of their being the same 
species.f 
This Hawk is most numerous where there are extensive meadows 
and salt marshes, over which it sails very low, making frequent circui- 
tous sweeps over the same ground, in search of a species of mouse, 
figured in Plate L., and very abundant in such situations. It occasion- 
ally flaps the wings, but is most commonly seen sailing about within a 
few feet of the surface. They are usually known by the name of the 
Mouse Hawk along the coast of New Jersey, where they are very com- 
mon. Several were also brought 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 low limbs of trees. 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 oj^en 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. J 
The Marsh Hawk is twenty-one inches long, and three feet eleven inches 
extent ; cere and legs yellow, the former tinged with green, the latter 
* Falco li'igargus, Linn. 
t This opinion of AVilson's is in accordance witli that of some recent ornithologists. 
We add the following synonymes : F. q/aneus, Gmel. Si/st. i., p. 226. — Lath. Ind. 
Orn. p. 39.—Rinr/-iail, Penn. Brit. Zool. i., p. 194, No. 59.— Hen-Harrier, Id. p. 193, 
No. 58. — F. pi/gargus. Linn. Sj/st. I., p. 89, No. 9, ed. 10. — Circus Hudsonius, 
YiEiL. Ois de I'Am. Se2)t. i., p. 36, pi. 9, — Buzard Saini-Martiii, Temm. Man. d' Orn, 
I., p. 72. 
% Palls, as quoted by Pennant. 
(79) 
