FALCONID^ — THE FALCONS. 



227 



plumage, has the longitudinal markings beneath so faint that they are 

 scarcely discernible, and the plumage generally has a very worn and faded 

 appearance. A male in fine plumage (10,759, Fort Bridger, Utah) has the 

 delicate reddish-rufous beneath so extended as to prevail, and with scarcely 

 any variegation on the sides and tibise ; the bars on the tail, also, are quite 

 obsolete. 



Habits. This species is one of the most common Hawks of North Amer- 

 ica, and its geographical range covers the entire continent, from Hudson's 

 Bay to Mexico. Sir John Eichardson 

 mentions its having been met with as 

 far to the north as latitude 51°. Drs. 

 Gambel and Heermann, and others, 

 speak of it as abundant throughout 

 California. Audubon found it very 

 plentiful as far north as the southern 

 shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It 

 has been obtained in New Mexico by 

 Mr. McCall, in Mexico by Mr. Pease, 

 in Washington Territory by Dr. Cooper 

 and Dr. Suckley, in Alaska by Mr. 

 Dall, at Fort Eesolution by Mr. Ken- 

 nicott, at Fort Simpson by Mr. B. E. 

 Eoss, etc. Messrs. Sclater and Salvin 



give it as a rare visitant of Guatemala. 



Nisus fuscus. 



It has been ascertained to breed in 



Massachusetts, New Jersey, AViscon- 



sin, California, and Pennsylvania, and 



it probably does so not only in the intervening States and Territories, but 



also in all, not excepting the most southern, Florida, where its nest was 



found by Mr. Wurdemann. 



Dr. Woodhouse, who frequently observed this bird skimming over the 

 prairies while in search of its prey, states that its flight is so peculiar that 

 there is no difficulty in recognizing it, when taken in connection witli its 

 form, short wings, and long tail, being very swift and irregular in its move- 

 ments, first high in the air, then close to the ground, suddenly disappearing 

 among the grass when it has seized the object of ^^'hich it was in pursuit. 



Mr. Dresser met with this Hawk in Texas, but nowhere south or west of 

 San Antonio, where it remains through the breeding-season, nesting in the 

 dense cedar-thickets. 



Mr. Audubon regarded it as the very miniature of the Goshawk, in its 

 irregular, swift, vigorous, varied, and yet often undecided, manner of flight, 

 and on occasion greatly protracted. When in search of its prey, it is 

 said to pass over the country, now at a moderate height, now close over 

 the land, and with a surprising swiftness. It advances by sudden dashes. 



