PALCoNiDa:. BIRDS. FALCONiDa:. 
clxxii 
seinble tlie Marsli Hawk. 'J'lie food consists largely 
of a fresh- water shell (Poiims depressns), so far, at 
least, as relates to the specimens captured by Mr. 
]\Iaynard. 
MARSH HAWK (Circus cyaneus). — Of the numer- 
ous sj)ecies of this genus. North America has but 
one. “• Birds of this genus,” say the authors of North 
American Birds, “ frequent open, generally marshy, 
localities, where they course over the meadows, 
moors or marshes, with a steady, gliding flight, sel- 
dom flapping', in pursuit of their food, which consists 
mainly of mice, small birds and reptiles. 'I'heir as- 
sault upon the latter is sudden and determined, like 
the ‘Swift Hawks’ or the species of Accipiter.” 
'I’lie North American species, which is also called 
American Harrier, is twenty-one inches long, and 
three feet eleven inches in extent of wing. It is, 
according to Wilson, particularly serviceable to the 
rice-planters of the Southern States, as it drives 
away the immense flocks of rice-birds from the plan- 
tations. As it sails low and swiftly over the surface 
of the field, it keeps the flocks in perpetual fluctua- 
tion, and greatly interrupts their depredations. The 
planters consider one Marsh Hawk to be equal to 
several negroes for alarming the rice-birds. The 
INIarsh Hawk is very common in New England, and 
there it is considered as less destructive than any 
other species. It is one of the most widely distri- 
Duted of any North American bird, being abundant 
everywhere, except in the south-eastern portion of 
the United States. 
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Nisus /mscms).— 'I’his 
species is found over the entire continent of North 
America, in the Bahamas; but not in the West 
Indies, where it is leplaced by the Astur I'ringilloides. 
It is one of the most common species in New Eng- 
land as a summer inhabitant. Audubon say's of it ; 
■“While in search of prey, it passes over the country, 
now at a modei'ate height, now close over the land, 
in so swift a manner, that, although your eye has 
marked it, you feel surprised that the very next mo- 
ment it has dashed off, and is far away. In fact, it 
is usually seen when least expected. 'I'he kind of 
vacillation or wavering with which it moves through 
the air, appears perfectly adapted to its wants, for it 
undoubtedly enables this little warrior to watch, and 
to see at a single quick glance of its keen eyes, every 
object, whether to the right or to the left, as it pur- 
sues its course.” Its impetuosity is well described by 
Nuttall, who says : “ Descending furiously and blindly 
upon its quarry, a young Hawk of this species broke 
through the glass of the greenhouse at the Camltridge 
Botanic Garden, and, fearlessly passing through a 
second glass partition, was oidy brought iqj by 
a third, and caught, though little stunned by the 
effort.” The flight of this Hawk is considered to be 
so peculiar as to readily distinguish it. Its short 
wings and long tail are readily recognized, and its 
habit is to fly high in air for a few moments and then 
close to the ground, suddenly disappearing in the 
tall grass or the thicket for any object it pursues. 
In many respects it resembles the'Goshawk in mini- 
ature. Wilson was intensely sur])rised at the peculiar 
dash of this little bird. He says; “It seemed to 
throw itself from one quarter of the heavens to an- 
other with prodigious velocity, inclining to the 
earth, swept suddenly down into a thicket, and in- 
stantly reappeared with a small bird in his talons. 
The I'apidity and seeming violence of these zigzag 
excursions were really remarkable, and appeared to 
me to be for the purpose of seizing his prey by sudden 
surprise and main force of flight.” 'i’he female of 
I his species is remarkable for its siqieriority in size 
to the male; it is thirteen inches in length, and 
twenty-five inches in extent of wing. 
COOPER’S HAWK (Nisus cooperi). — 'I’his species is 
found in most parts of North America, but is rare 
in the western |)ortion. It resembles the last-named 
species, but is considerably larger. A variety, called 
the Mexican Blue-backed Hawk, var. mexicanus, is 
found in the western region of North America and 
in Mexico. 'I'hough formerly rare in New England, 
it is now said to be quite abundant there, and is 
known by the name of Hen Hawk. It is bold and 
daring, often making an attack upon fowls of the 
l)arnyard much larger than itself. It moves along in 
a silent, gliding manner, swiftly and in a straight 
course, and seldom sails in circles like other species. 
AMERICAN GOSHAWK (Astur palumdtarms ) . — 
Wilson says of this bird : “ If this be not the cele- 
brated Goshawk formerly so much esteemed in fal- 
conry, it is very closely allied to it.” It is a common 
winter visitor in New England. Prof. Veirill says 
that it breeds in Maine. Audubon says of it: “ His 
flight is extremely rapid and protracted. He sweeps 
along the margins of the fields, through the woods, 
and by the edges of ponds and rivers, with such 
speed as to enable him to seize his prey by merely 
deviating a few yards from his course; assisting him- 
self on such occasions by his long tail, which, like a 
I'htdder, he throws to the right or the left, upwards 
or downwards, to check his progress, or enable him 
suddenly to alter his course. At times he passed 
like a meteor through the underwood, where he 
secures hares and squirrels with ease. Should a. 
flock of wild pigeons pass him when on these pre- 
datory excui'sions, he immediately gives chase, soon 
overtakes them, and, forcing his way into the veiy 
centre of the flock, scatters them in confusion, when 
you may see him emerging with a bird in his talons, 
and diving towards the depth of the forest to feed 
upon his victim. When travelling he flies high, with 
a constant beat of the wings, seldom moving in large 
ciicles, like other Hawks.” This bird has been known 
to attack a. flock of pigeons, and kill several, letting 
them drop while crossing a river, and then afterwards 
picked them up and carried them off singly to the 
shore. 'The Goshawk is not adapted for long flights ; 
its wings are so shaped that it is more natural foi' 
the bird to make short dashes near the earth, unlike 
in this respect some other species that capture their 
prey by the chase, in the air. As a trained bird the 
Eurojiean variety is considered to be one of tlie most 
valuable. Its mode of hunting is said to be singu- 
larly like that of the Cheetah. Like that ainmal, it is 
not nearly so swift as the prey, and, thei’efore, is 
