KAPTORES— FALCONIDAE— NISCrS FUSCUS. 



417 



NISUS FUSCUS, Gmel. 

 Sharped-shinned Hawk. 



Falco fuscun, Gmel., Syst. Nat., 1789, 283, 



Acvipiter fuscvs, Bd., Stans^ Eep. Exp. Great Salt Lake, 1852, 314.— Woodh., Sit- 

 greave'8 Exp. Zuui & Col. Eiv., 1S54, 61._Newb., V. E. R. Rep., vi 1857 

 74.-BD., Birds N. A., 1858, IS—Heerm., P. 11. R. Rep., x, pt.' iv' 1859,' 

 33.— Bd., U. S. & Mex. Bound Surv., ii, pt. ii, 1859, Birds, 3.— Coues, Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1860, 43.— Cooper, Birds Cal., 1870, 4GC.— Stev., 

 U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., 1872, 212.-Snow, Birds Kan., 1872, 4.— Merriam! 

 U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., 1872, 697— Coues, Birds Northwest, 1874, 332 



msusfmcm, Bd., Brew., & Ridg., N. A. Birds, iii, 1874, 224._Yarrow& Henshaw, 

 Rep. Oru. Specs., 1872, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 25.-Henshaw, Eep. Orn. 

 Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, G8, 138. 



Not uncommon in Nevada and Utah. A beautiful adult pair were 

 taken in Beaver Canon September 24. Upon one occasion, while watching 

 a pair of doves feeding upon the ground, a female of this species made a 

 daring and successful swoop upon one of them, passing within a few feet of 

 the observer's head. As a farther illustration of the bravery and hardihood 

 with which this bird pursues its prey, it may be mentioned that one was 

 observed in the town of Panquitch eagerly pursuing a common pigeon, 

 apparently oblivious of the presence of spectators, who, for some time, 

 vainly endeavored to drive it away. Such was its determination that it 

 actually followed the pigeon into a deserted house, but was finally obliged 

 to retire without accomplishing its object. 



In Arizona and New Mexico, it is one of the most numerous of the 

 hawks, inhabiting the country with little regard to nature of locality. In the 

 fall, when the small birds and gather in favored spots about the streams, this 



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