404 



ZOOLOGY BIRDS. 



destroyed the whole colony, one after another, but having procured four of 

 the number, I left the remainder to finish their nap in undisturbed tran- 

 quillity. 



In Arizona, this bird is not uncommon, and Captain Bendire has 

 informed me that he found some large colonies under much the same circum- 

 stances as that mentioned above. 



OTUS (BEACHYOTUS) BEACHYOTUS, Stev. 

 Short-eared Owl. 



Strix bracliyotus, GMEL., Syst. Nat., 1789, 289. 



Brachyotvs cassinii, NEWB., P. E. E. Rep., vi, 1857, 76. BD., Birds N. A., 1858, 54. 

 HEERM., P. E. E. Rep., x, pt. ii, 1859, 34. HENRY, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 

 Phila., 1859, 105 (New Mexico). Coop. & StiCKL., P. E. E. Eep., xii, pt. ii, 

 I860, 155. HAYD., Trans. Am. Phil. Soc., xii, 1862, 154. COUES, Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1806, 50. COOPER, Birds Cal., i, 1870, 428. STEV., 

 U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., 1870, 462. SNOW, Birds Kan., 1872, 5. 



Ottis (Brackyotus) bracliyotus, BD., BREW., & EIDG., N. A. Birds, iii, 1874, 22. 



Olus bracliyotus, HENSHAW, Eep. Orn. Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 135. 



Brachyotus palustris, COUES, Key N. A. Birds, 1872, 204. ALLEN, Proc. Bost. Soc. 

 Nat. Hist,, June, 1874, 34. COUES, Birds Northwest, 1874, 306. 



A single specimen was obtained near Camp Bowie, Southeastern Arizona, 

 which was the only occasion the species was met with. This bird was 

 started from a low clump of bushes on an open plain, and flew in a wild, 

 uncertain manner, as though completely bewildered. It proved, however, 

 no easy matter to get within gunshot of it a scond time, and several unsuc- 

 cessful attempts were made before a long shot brought it down. 



Dr. Coues speaks of having seen "a surprising number on different 

 occasions along the Colorado River," and gives it as common throughout 

 the Territory. The above instance is, however, the only one where the 



