PYGMY OWL G. PASSERINUM VAR. CALIFORNICUM. 319 



ure from the effects of sunlight, its vivifying and invigorating influence 

 seems replaced by the analogous effect of the warmth of their accus- 

 tomed haunts, and the same purpose of fostering vitality to be sub- 

 served. Sedentary habits, and luxurious day-dreams in snug seclusion, 

 may have on these birds the same effect of exciting into early and 

 uncontrollable action certain vital functions, that is known to be pro- 

 duced in our own species by a similar mode of life. 



The brief notice of this species that Dr. Heermaun has left is incorrect 

 in one portion, for he says that it may sometimes " be caught perched 

 on the branch of a tree, napping, duriug the day-time." The fact is, that 

 it shows a decided tendency toward diurnal habits, and though thus 

 often found abroad in the day time, it will not likely be "caught nap- 

 ping." It has ai)peare<l to me, in fact, as little inconvenienced by the 

 glare of day as the Burrowing Owl is, and it pursues its insect prey by 

 day as well as by night with activity and success. Dr. Newberry speaks 

 more to the point: " It flies about," he writes, "with great freedom and 

 activity by day, pursuing small binis, upon which it subsists, appar- 

 ently as little incommoded by the light as they are;" thought I doabt 

 that birds form a great portion of its food. It is so small, and its rapa- 

 cious powers, if not nature, so limited, that it must confine its pursuit 

 to the most insignificant game. The stomachs of my specimens were 

 found to be filled with fragments of grasshoppers and beetles, some of 

 wiiich were yet scarcely altered by digestion, showing that they nuist 

 have been very recently captured. Each of the birds was killed about 

 noon. The following account of the bird is so good, and agrees so well 

 with my own observations, that I reproduce it from the Natural History 

 of Washington Territory. The first paragraph is by Dr. Cooper, the 

 other by Dr. Suckley : 



" This (the smallest Owl found in the Territory) I have seen only 

 once, though it seems to be not very uncommon. On the 1st of Novem- 

 ber, 18.51, I observed it among a flock of Sparrows, which did not seem 

 at all frightened by its presence. For some time I thought it was one 

 of them, though its large head and owl-like flight seemed to me strange. 

 It was plaiidy diurnal in habits, not seeming to seek any shelter from 

 the sunshine. Its stomach contained only insects, and it is probable 

 that it does not often attack birds." 



" I have obtained two specnmens of this Owl at Puget Sound, where 

 it seems to be moderately abundant. It appears to be diurnal in its 

 habits, gliding about in shady situations in pursuit of its prey. I saw a 

 bird of this kind, about midday, in a shady alder swamj) near Nisqually. 

 It flitted noiselessly past me several times, alighting near by, on a small 

 branch, as if to examine the intruder. It seemed quite tame, and en- 

 tirely unsophisticated. I noticed that in flying the tail was kept rather 

 widely spread. Near a snmll lake in the neighborhood of Fort Steila- 

 coom I frequently heard the voice of a small Owl, th(> notes of which 

 were subdued and clear, like the low, soft notes of a flute. As the only 

 small Owl I ever saw in the neighborhood belonged to this specitvs, it is 

 I)rol»iibl(' that the souuds heard <'ame from an individual of the l<iud.'' 



The last sentence gives the oidy intimation of the notes of this bird 

 that we have; and, unless the writei- was mistaken in his surunsc. which 

 is quite jjossible, it is something new in the history of the family, for \w 

 Owl is known to emit sounds at all conq)arable to the notes of a flute. 

 The voices of most of these night biids are among the most uncouth, 

 inharmonious, and lugubrious souiuls that ever bicak the stillness ot 

 the dark scene. With an avcrag*^ of musi(;al ability that birds are fa- 

 vored with, they com[)are as tlie creaking and pufiing of disordered 



