274 
MARSH HAWK. 
scapulars, spotted with the same under the surface; lesser 
coverts and band of the wing, here and there edged with the 
same ; greater coverts and primaries, tipt with whitish ; quills, 
deep brown at the extreme half, some of the outer ones hoary 
on the exterior edge ; all the primaries, yellowish white on 
the inner vanes and upper half, also barred on the inner vanes 
with black; tail, long, extending three inches beyond the 
wings, rounded at the end, and of a pale sorrel colour, crossed 
by four broad bars of very dark brown, the two middle feathers 
excepted, which are barred with deep and lighter shades of 
chocolate brown ; chin, pale ferruginous ; round the neck, a 
collar of bright rust colour ; breast, belly, and vent, pale rust, 
shafted with brown ; femorals, long, tapering, and of the same 
pale rust tint ; legs, feathered near an inch below the knee. 
This was a female. The male differs chiefly in being rather 
lighter, and somewhat less. 
This Hawk is particularly serviceable to the rice fields of 
the southern states, by the havock it makes among the clouds 
of Rice Buntings that spread such devastation among that 
grain, in its early stage. As it sails low, and swiftly, over the 
surface of the field, it keeps the flocks in perpetual fluctuation, 
and greatly interrupts their depredations. The planters 
consider one Marsh Hawk to be equal to several negroes for 
alarming the Rice-birds. Formerly the Marsh Hawk used 
to be numerous along the Schuylkill and Delaware, during 
the time the reeds were ripening, and the Reed-birds 
abundant ; but they have of late years become less numerous 
here. 
Mr Pennant considers the 6 6 strong, thick , and short legs” 
of this species, as specific distinctions from the Ring-tailed 
Hawk ; the legs, however, are long and slender ; and a Marsh 
Hawk such as he has described, with strong, thick, and short 
legs, is nowhere to be found in the United States. 
