418 BIRDS—FALCUNIDAl. 
it in his catalogue on the authority of Dr. Sager, who had taken it in 
the Maumee Valley. Mr. Read does not name it. Mr. Kirkpatrick says, 
“it is quite common in Ohio and abounds around Sandusky Bay, in the 
marshes of which it obtains a rich supply of food. Along the Cuyahoga 
bottoms it may often be seen, and it no doubt breeds in these iocalities.” 
Mr. Dury has found it breeding at the Mercer county Reservoir. Mr. 
Langdon gives it as arare spring and fall migrant in the vicinity of 
Cincinnati. In the vicinity of Columbus it was once rather common, and 
bred in the swamp prairies south of the city. A few remained here 
during the winter but they were more numerous in summer. Now it is 
comparatively rare; in some seasons none are seen, Itis always found 
in the vicinity of water, and at present is most frequently seen in late 
summer or early fall, sweeping slowly over the bottoms in pursuit of 
mice, birds and large insects. | 
The nest of the Marsh Hawk differs from that of all others of the 
family, breeding with us,in being placed on the ground. It is composed 
of scant materials or none, and contains from three to six eggs. These 
are dull white more or less shaded with green or blue, often spotted with 
different shades of brown, lilac and lavender. They measure about 1.80 
by 1.45. 
Genus ELANOIDES. Vieillot. 
Bill moderately strong. Nostrils broadly oval. Wings long and pointed ; tail long, 
deeply ,forked ; feet. small; tarsi reticulate, feathered half way down in front; toes 
barely webbed. 
ELANOIDES FORFICATUS (L.) Ridgway. 
Swallowetailed E<ite. 
Falco furcatus, WiLSON, Am. Orn., vi, 1812, 70.— KIRTLAND, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 161, 
178.—ReaD, Fam. Visitor, iii, 1852, 228; Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., vi, 1853, 
395. 
Nauclerus furcatus, KIRKPATRICK, Ohio Farmer vii, 1858, 363.—WHEATON, Ohio Agric. 
Rep. for 1860, 361; Reprint, 1861, 3; Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 
570; Reprint, 1875, 10—Lane@pon, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 12; Journ. Cin. Soc. 
Nat. Hist., i, 1878, 116. 
Elanoides forficaius, WHEATON, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, iv, 1877, 12.—LanGpon, Revised 
List, Journ. Cin.Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 180; Reprint, 14, 
Swallow-tailed Hawk, K1irTLAND, Fam. Visitor, i, 1850, 1. 
Falco forficatus, LINNEUS, Syst. Nat., 1, 1758. 
Falco furcatus, LINNZUS, Syst. Nat., i, 1766, 129. 
Nauclerus furcatus, VigorS, Zool. Journ., ii, 1825, 387. 
Elanoides yetapa, VIEILLOT, Ency. Meth., iii, 1823, 1205. 
Elanoides forficatus, RIDGWAY, Bull. U. 8. Geolog. and Geog. Surv., ii, No. 2, 1876, 181. 
