1899.] VAN DENBURGH — BIRDS OF SANTA CLARA CO., CAL. 161 



Aquihi chryscctos. Golden Eagle. 



In the eastern parts of the valley and in the mountains near Mount 

 Hamilton, this eagle breeds abundantly, but it seems to avoid the 

 western portions of the county, where I have seen it but once, at 

 Los Gatos, in winter. 



Falco sparvarius deserticola. Desert Sparrow Hawk. 



This is the commonest of our hawks. It is resident in all parts of 

 the valley, and breeds abundantly in the cavities of the white oaks 

 in April and May. 



Strix pratincola. Barn Owl. 



Barn Owls are very common at Palo Alto and near San Jose, but 

 are rarely seen at Los Gatos. A nest in a hollow oak near Palo 

 Alto, visited May 13, 1894, contained one ^gg, three young owls 

 and five gophers. The gophers were arranged in a row at one side 

 of the cavity, their headless necks all directed away from its centre, 

 where the tgg and young owls lay. 



Asio wilsonianus. Long-eared Owl. 



I have seen this owl but once, on Black Mountain, February 18, 

 1893. 



Asio accipitrinus. Short-eared Owl. 



A single specimen was killed near Los Gatos in the fall of 1891. 



Megascops asio bendirei. California Screech Owl. 



This is a resident species, which breeds abundantly in all parts of 

 the county, usually in May. 



Bubo virginiamis pacificus. Pacific Horned Owl. 



This large owl may often be seen toward five or six o'clock in the 

 afternoon of warm, clear days in April and May soaring in pairs 

 or skimming over the fields in search of food. Near Palo Alto the 

 species is quite common and nests in the large oaks which abound 

 in that district. The nest examined May 14, 1892, contained two 

 half-grown young. The following year this pair constructed a 

 nest in a white oak about two hundred yards from that which con- 

 tained their nest of 1892. This new nest was made of coarse twigs 

 and was partially lined with moss. Its construction occupied the 

 owls about two weeks. When deprived of the two eggs which they 

 laid in this nest the birds returned to the nest of 1892 and laid two 



