HORNED OWLS, ETC. 191 



other thick foUage, Avhere it sits upright near the trunk and is prac- 

 tically invisible to the observer. 



"The flight is not very much like that of other owls, but resem- 

 bles that of the sparrow hawk to some extent, and is not altogether 

 noiseless. The love-notes, according to Captain Bendire, are some- 

 what musical, althougli they resemble to some extent those of the 

 mourning dove." (Fislier. ) 



379a. G. g. californicum (ScL). California Pygmy Owl. 



Similar to (r. (jikiiiki but browner, chest heavily waslied with reddish 

 brown. Youny : much paler, ash gray on head and grayish brown on back, 

 unspotted. 



Distribution. — Humid coast region from southern British Columbia 

 south to northern California. 



Nest. — In deserted woodpecker holes. Eggs : usually 4, white. 



Food. — Largely mammals and small birds. 



380. Glaucidium phalsenoides (Baud.). Ferruginous Pygmy 



Owl. 



Adults. — Similar to the pygmy owl, but sides of breast plain brown or 

 rufous, upper parts varying from grayish brown to bright rufous; head 

 finely streaked with whitish ; tail banded, bars varying from white to ru- 

 fous aiul interspaces from grayish brown to blackish. Young : top of head 

 plain. Lftigth : ()..')0-7.00, wing :].50-4.()f), tail 2.20-3.50. 



Distribution. — From Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, south to south- 

 ern Brazil. 



Nest. — As far as known, in hollow trees, or woodpecker holes. Eggs : 

 — taken by Sennett — 4, white. 



The little ferruginous owl is diurnal like the other pygmies, flying 

 about hunting in bright sunlight. His note, as given by Mr. F. 

 Stephens, is a "loud curk repeated several times, as rapidly as twice 

 each second," given with a jerk of the tail and a toss of the head. 



GENUS MICROPAIiLAS. 



381. Micropallas Whitneyi {Cooper). Elf Owl. 



Head witliout car tufts; ear openings small: nostril small, circular, open- 

 ing near the middle of the intJated cere; tarsus jJR'C'-^ 

 longer than middle toe. .scantily haired ; claws small tWf*'^' "^M 



and weak ; tail even, less than one half as long as ^Cl^;', ."^ 



wing; smallest United States owl. . lr/H/^s■.• face with ^■^<»*-'. — 

 white eyebrows ; lores and throat band white, encir- ^'^' -''• 



cled by brownish ring; under ]);wts whitish, with vertical blotches of dark 

 brown and rusty. limUj mottled irith darker: ujiper parts grayish or grav- 

 isli brown, fiiuli/ iitatlh tl with darker .and rusty. ;ind indistinctly specked 

 with rusty ; tail brownish, cro.ssed l)y .*> ord narrow pale brownish or rusty 

 bands, usuallv interrupted on middle feathei-s. Lenqth : .")..jO-)').2.*), wing 

 4.00-4.40, tail 1.00-2.:i(». 



Distribution. — From southern Texas to sotithern Calif orni.i. .and south 

 tlu'ough Lower ( 'jiliforuia and t;iblelands of Mexico. 



Nest. — In old woodjjecker holes in giant cacti or hollow trees. Eggs : 2 

 to 5, white. 



Food. — As far as known, small mammals. gra.ssho])pers. and beetles. 



