204 KOTES ON CALIFORNIA ANIMALS. 



Megascops flamineolus (Kau))). Fhimmnlated iScrcech Owl. 



A speciiueti of this southern Owl was takeu at; Fort Crook, iu August, 

 18G0, by Capt. John Feilner — the lirst instance of its capture i'l the 

 United States. 



Bubo virgiuiauus subarcticus ( Hoy ). U'csleni Honied Oirl. 



Common throughout Xortheni (3alitoinia. I obtained ii specimen at 

 Ked r.IutTM;nchl2L 



Bubo virginianus saturatus IJidujw. Dusky llorvcd Owl. 



The Horned Owls, which I saw at Humboldt Bay, are jjrobably refer 

 able to this variety. Xo specimens were obtained. 



Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea (Hoiiap.). JJiirrowhig Owl. 



The Burrowing Owl is a very common resident of all suitable places. 

 It was found on the sage-covered districts jiorth of Mount Shasta, and 

 occu[Med the deserted burrows of the spermophiles in the Sacramento 

 Valley. 



Glaucidium gnoma AVagl. Pygmy Owl. 



I obtained two specimens of the Pygmy Owl at tlie western base of 

 jVIount Shasta in 1883, and two more at Humboldt Bay in 188.3. 



This is a most interesting binl. It is rather<liurnal in its movements, 

 and m-Ay be seen long before sunset engaged in its search for small 

 birds, upon which it seems to subsist largely, dying close to the ground 

 along the borders of tull nuirshes. It doubtless kills marsh-wrens and 

 small sparrows, as such birds were often noticed near the hunting 

 grounds of the owl. One Pygmy Owl, which I shot, had a freshly killed 

 snowbird {Jnnco orcgonns) in its claws. 



Family ClICULID^E. Cuckoos. 



Geococcyx californianus (Less.). Hoad-runucr; Chaparral Cool:. 



The Tload-runncr is rare in Northern Ciilifornia. Found throughout 

 the Sa(;ramento Valley, its munbers gradually diminish towards the 

 north, until at Pittliiver its northward limit is reached. Several hunters 

 informed me that it has been seen in the vicinity of Copper City, on 

 Pitt liiver, ten miles above its conliuence with the Sacramento. It is 

 of more frequent occurrence in the southern i)art of Shasta County, and 

 is not uncommon at Red Blulf, where one was captured during my resi- 

 dence there. 



Coccyzus americanus (Liiiii.). Yellow-hilled Cuckoo. 



At Fort lieading Dr. Newberry frequently saw and heard " Rain 

 Crows, "whichhesupposed to be C.eri/fhrophfhalmus, butas ('. aiinrirfoivs 

 is the oidy ont^ of the genus known to inhabit the Pacifu; slope there 

 can be iitth' doubt about its being this si)ecies. 



