406 



ZOOLOGY BIKDS. 



SCOPS FLAMMEOLA, Licht. 



Flammulated Owl. 



Scops flammeola-, LIGHT., Mus. Berol. Noinenclat., 1854, 7. COOPER, Birds Ca-1., 1870, 

 423. COUES, Key N. A. Birds, 1872, 203. BD., BREW., & KIDG., N. A. 

 Birds, iii, 1874, 58. HENSHAW, liep. Oru. Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Exped., 

 1874, 135. COUES, Birds Northwest, 1874, 304. 



This rare species has hitherto been known to our fauna through a 

 single specimen taken at Fort Crook, Cal. I think, however, that it may 

 be not uncommon in Arizona, though, like others of this genus, its strictly 

 nocturnal habits render it extremely liable to escape detection. A fine 

 specimen was secured by Dr. C. G. Newberry in a canon thirty miles south of 

 Camp Apache. Having shot a small bird, he was pushing through the brush 

 to pick it up, when this little owl started from a low tree, where it was con- 

 cealed, probably asleep, and alighted a few yards distant, where it was 

 shot. At the report of his gun, a second flew out from a low bush, but 

 was lost in the thick brush. The following evening, when returning to 

 camp, gun in hand, I was imitating the notes of the Screech Owl, and was 

 answered by notes similar in character, but shorter and weaker. Stationing 

 myself directly under an oak, the top branches of which I could see outlined 

 against the sky, and continuing the call, I soon saw the form of a diminu- 

 tive owl clearly denned against the sky, and I think it probably was the 

 mate of the one shot. Upon shooting, the bird fell part way down, but 

 recover itself, and I obtained only a glimpse of it as it flew out, and was 

 lost in the deep shadows of the caflon's sides. 



