202 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



although in a large series any shape may be found, from globular to 

 pyriform. The number laid varies from four to ten, usually six or 

 eight. Professor Evermann has a set of eleven which he collected near 

 Santa Paula, Cal., April 14, 1881, and Captain Bendire records an ex- 

 traordinary set of twelve, taken by Mr. Walter E. Bryant, near Carson, 

 Nevada. The average size given by Captain Bendire in a series of two 

 hundred and fifty specimens is 1.24 x 1.03 ; the smallest. 1.17 x .97, the 

 largest 1.35 x 1.09. 



3780. Speotyto cunicularia floridana RIDGW. [4080.] 



Florida Burrowing Owl. 



Hab. Florida and adjacent Bahama Islands. 



A smaller local race of Florida, having the lower parts of its plum- 

 age nearly pure white. In some places in Florida colonies of these 

 birds are quite common, nesting in the same manner as 5. cunicularia 

 hypogcsa. Four eggs from Southern Manatee county, Florida, taken 

 April 10, 1885, measure, 1.24x1.05, 1.23x1.02, 1.22x1.02, 1.25x1.05. 



379. Grlaucidium gnoma WAGL. [409.] 



Pygmy Owl. 



Hab, Mexico; north to Colorado and Oregon. 



The little Pigmy Owl, the true G. gnoma, belongs to Mexico, and 

 is found in the United States as far north as Colorado and Oregon. 

 The California Pigmy Owl, P. g. californica, is restricted to the Pacific 

 coast region, from Santa Cruz northward to British Columbia. Consid- 

 ering the two birds under one heading they may be found quite un- 

 common in suitable places throughout the mountainous portions of the 

 West, but from their very small size and unobtrusive habits they are 

 likely to be overlooked. The Pigmy Owl feeds upon insects and the 

 smaller rodents, which it hunts by day as well as by night. Its flight 

 is described as short, quick and jerking, similar to that of the Sparrow 

 Hawk. Comparatively little has been written regarding the nesting 

 and eggs of this bird. 



Mr. William A. Cooper describes a nest which was found by Mr. 

 George H. Ready, near Santa Cruz, Cal., in a deserted woodpecker's 

 excavation in the trunk of a tree seventy-five feet from the ground. 

 The burrow was about nine inches deep and two inches across the 

 mouth. The nest was found June 8, 1876, and contained three eggs, 

 deposited upon a bed of twigs and a few feathers for a lining, three 

 inches deep. One egg was accidentally broken. The two remaining 

 eggs are described as dull white, with a scarcely perceptible yellowish 

 tinge. The surface is quite smooth, and has the appearance of having 

 been punctured with a fine point over the entire egg. They are oblong- 



