SPECIES 16. FdLCO ULIGINOSUS.*



                    MARSH HAWK,

                    [Plate LI.-Fig. 1.]

EDW. iv, 291.-LATH. I, 90.--.Irct. Zool. p. 208, N'o. 105.-
        BAIRrRAM, P. 290.-PEALE'S Museum. JVo. 318.

  A DRAWING of this Hawk was transmitted to Edwards more
than fifty years ago, by Mr. William Bartram, and engraved
in Plate 291 of Edwards' Natural History. At that time, and
I believe till now, it has been considered as a species peculiar
to this country.
  I have examined various individuals of this Hawk, both in
summer and in the depth of winter, and find them to corres-
pond so nearly with the Ring-tail of Europe, that I have no
doubt of their being the same species.t
  This Hawk is most numerous where there are extensive mea-
dows and salt marshes, over which it sails very low, making
frequent circuitous sweeps over the same ground, in search of
a species of mouse, figured in Plate 50, and very abundant in
such situations. It occasionally flaps the wings, but is most com-
monly seen sailing about within a few feet of the surface. They
are usually known by the name of the Mouse-Hawk along the
coast of New Jersey, where they are very common. Several
were also brought me last winter from the meadows below Phi-
ladelphia. Having never seen its nest, I am unable to describe
it from my own observation. It is said, by European writers,
' Falco pygargus, LINx.
t This opinion of Wilson's is in accordance with that of some recent orni-
thologists. We add the following Synonymes: F. cyaneus, GMEL. Syst. I, p.
276.-LATH. Ind. orn. p. 39.-Ring-tail, PEDNN. Brit. Zool. I, p. 194, No.
59.
lilel-Hari icr, Id. p). 193. No. 58.-F. pygargus, LINE. Syst. i, p. 89, No.
9, ed,
10.-CiTTUS Hud0soiUs, YILIL. Oisde 1'Am. Sept. I, p. 36, pl.9.-Busard Saint-
M1artiti, Irt   Nl Man. d'Orii. I, p. 72.