STKKJID^E — THE OWLS. 



83 



GInuridium rnlif'ornicum. 



The Glaucidium californicum requires comparison only witli the G. 

 pccsserinum of Europe, to which it is quite closely related, though easily dis- 

 tinguishable by the characters pointed 

 out in the diagnoses ; it is not at all 

 like gnoma, nor indeed any other 

 American species, with which it lias 

 been confounded by nearly all orni- 

 tliologists, even by Cabanis, in liis 

 excellent paper above cited. 



I have seen only one Mexican speci- 

 men of tliis species, which is one in 

 Mr. Lawrence's collection ; the locality 

 is not given, l)ut it is prol)ably from 

 the higher regions of the interior. It 

 differs in no respect, except in size, 

 from North American examples ; it 

 measures, wing, 3.40 ; tail, 2. GO. 



Habits. This species, one of the 

 smallest of our Xorth American Owls, was first obtained on the Columbia 

 liiver liy I)i-. Townsend, near Fort Vancouver; and subsequently, Dr. Merideth 

 Gairdner procured several others from the same locality, which were sent to 

 the Edinburgli Museum. Dr. Towuseud's specimen was said to have been 

 taken on the wing at midday. 



Dr. Cooper met with a single specimen in Washington Territory early in 

 November, 1854. He observed it among a flock of Sparrows, that did not 

 seem at all disturbed by its presence. At first he mistook it for one of these 

 birds. Its stomach was found to contain only insects. 



Dr. Suckley obtained two specimens at Puget Sound, where he found it 

 moderately abundant. It seemed to be diurnal in its habits, gliding about 

 in shady situations in pursuit of its prey. He saw one about midday in a 

 shady alder-swamp near Nisqually. It flitted noiselessly past him several 

 times, alighting near by, on a low branch, as if to examine the intruder. 



Near a small lake in tlie neighborhood of Fort Steilacoom, Dr. Suckley 

 frequently heard the voice of a diminutive Owl, which he supposed to come 

 from one of tliese bird.s, as this is the only small species of the family he 

 ever saw in that neighborhood. The notes were subdued and clear, like the 

 soft, low notes of a flute. 



Dr. Newberry procured specimens of the Pigmy Owl on tiie Cascade 

 Mountains, in Oregon, where, however, it was not common. It occurs also 

 in California, as he saw several individuals in San Francisco that had been 

 obtained in that State, hut he did not meet with any in the Sacramento 

 Valley. It was apparently confined to wooded districts, which is probably 

 the reason why it is nut more frequent in the open country of California. 

 He adds that it flies about with great freedom and activity by day, pursuing 



