PIGMY OWL. 27 



CHAPTER II. 



PIGMY OR MEDICINE OWL AND NEST SUPERSTITIOUS DREAD OF 



INDIANS GOLDEN-CREST AND ITS CRADLE RUFFED GROUSE. 



THE PIGMY OWL. 



Glaucidium Gnoma, Wagler ; Strix passerinoides, Tern. ; 

 Strix infuscata, Tern. ; Glaucidium Calif ornicum, Sclater ; 

 the Medicine or Death Owl of the North-west American 

 Indians. 



THIS rare and beautiful little owl, the smallest 

 of all the North American species, I shot for the 

 first time on Vancouver Island. It has also been 

 obtained, though rarely, in Oregon, Washington 

 Territory, and California. 



The habits of this tiny bird appear little known. 

 Its diminutive size, shy solitary habits for it 

 always hides amongst the thick foliage of the oak 

 or pine, except when feeding renders the task of 

 observing it, or obtaining a specimen, at all times 

 difficult; hence a few dried skins, from which its 

 generic and specific characters have been deter- 

 mined, are the only specimens we possess. How 



