105 
Genus XI.— CIRCUS, Bechst. HARRIER. 
Bill short, compressed ; upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping to 
beyond the cere, then decurved, the sides sloping, the edge with a festoon a 
little anterior to the nostril, the tip acute ; lower mandible with the dorsal 
line ascending and convex, the tip rounded. Nostrils large, ovato-oblong, 
with an oblique ridgeTrom their upper edge. Head of moderate size, oblong, 
neck rather short, body slender. Legs longs and slender : tarsi long, com- 
pressed, anteriorly and posteriorly scutellate ; toes slender, scutellate unless 
* at the base ; claws long, compressed, moderately curved, flat beneath, acumi- 
nate. Plumage very soft ; a distinct ruff of narrow feathers from behind the 
eye on each side to the chin, the aperture of the ear being very large. 
Wings long, much rounded, the fourth quill longest ; outer four quills with 
their inner webs sinuate. Tail straight, long, slightly rounded. Quills and 
tail feathers covered with velvety down. 
MARSH HAWK. 
Circus cyaneus, Linn. 
PLATE XXIY. 
This species visits the greater part of the United States. Dr. Richardson 
procured some specimens in latitude 65° north, and Mr. Townsend found 
it on the plains of tire Columbia river, as well as on the extensive prairies 
bordering on the Missouri. I have met with it in Newfoundland and 
Labrador on the one hand, in Texas on the other, and in every intermediate 
portion of the country. 
The flight of the Marsh Hawk, although light and elegant, cannot be said 
to be either swift or strong ; but it is well sustained, and this may be 
accounted for on comparing the small size and weight of its body with the 
great extent of its wings and tail, which are proportionally larger than those 
of any other American Hawk. While searching for prey, it performs most 
of its rambles by rather irregular sailings ; by which I mean thatit frequently 
deviates from a straight course, peeping hither and thither among the tall 
grasses of the marshes, prairies, or meadows, or along the briary edges of 
Yol. I. 16 
