ne of the most widely distributed birds of North America is the Marsh
Hawk, according to Wilson, breeding from the fur regions around Hudson's
Bay to Texas, and from Nova Scotia to Oregon and California. Excepting
in the Southern portion of the United States, it is abundant everywhere.
It makes its appearance in the fur countries about the opening of the
rivers, and leaves about the beginning of November. Small birds, mice,
fish, worms, and even snakes, constitute its food, without much
discrimination. It is very expert in catching small green lizards,
animals that can easily evade the quickest vision.

It is very slow on the wing, flies very low, and in a manner different
from all others of the hawk family. Flying near the surface of the
water, just above the weeds and canes, the Marsh Hawk rounds its
untiring circles hour after hour, darting after small birds as they rise
from cover. Their never ending flight, graceful as it is, becomes
monotonous to the watcher. Pressed by hunger, they attack even wild
ducks.

In New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, where it sweeps over the low
lands, sailing near the earth, in search of a kind of mouse very common
in such situations, it is chiefly known as the Mouse Hawk. In the
southern rice fields it is useful in preventing to some extent the
ravages of the swarms of Bobolinks. It has been stated that one Marsh
Hawk was considered by planters equal to several negroes for alarming
the rice birds. This Hawk when feeding is readily approached.

The birds nest in low lands near the sea shore, in the barrens, and on
the clear table-lands of the Alleghanies, and once a nest was found in a
high covered pine barrens of Florida.

The Marsh Hawks always keep together after pairing, working jointly in
building the nest, in sitting upon the eggs, and in feeding the young.
The nest is clumsily made of hay, occasionally lined with feathers, pine
needles, and small twigs. It is built on the ground, and contains from
three to five eggs of a bluish white color, usually more or less marked
with purplish brown blotches. Early May is their breeding time.

It will be observed that even the Hawk, rapacious as he undoubtedly is,
is a useful bird. Sent for the purpose of keeping the small birds in
bounds, he performs his task well, though it may seem to man harsh and
tyranical. The Marsh Hawk is an ornament to our rural scenery, and a
pleasing sight as he darts silently past in the shadows of fall