ROCKY MOUNTAIN PYGMY OWL 407 



Charles F. Morrison, of La Plata County, Colo., is quoted by Major 

 Bendire as having heard only a faint squeak from this owl. Mr. Sillo- 

 way (1903) says: "When flushed, they uttered a faint shrill whistling 

 call. One of the family, the female in charge of the youngsters, ut- 

 tered a low cooing whistle, in low pitch." 



Enemies. — As a rule the small birds pay little or no attention to the 

 presence of a pygmy owl near them; but there are a few recorded 

 exceptions. Mrs. Bailey (1923) writes that "the little owl was being 

 mobbed by bridled titmice." At a later date Mrs. Bailey (1928) says: 

 "In the Sacramento Mountains Mr. Ligon has discovered two by the 

 hummingbirds fighting them, and finds that the j uncos also often 

 betray the presence of the little Owl, perched knot-like, on a limb." 

 C. A. Allen, quoted by Dr. A. K. Fisher (1893b), says: "There were 

 fighting the Owl one pair of Tyrannus verticalis, one pair of Bullock's 

 Orioles, one pair of Bewick's Wrens, three Banded Tits (Chamaea 

 fasciata), one pair of Pipilo oregonus, one pair of P. crissalis, and 

 about twenty Blackbirds (Scolecophagus cyanocephalus) . The bravest 

 birds were the Bewick's Wrens and Bullock's Orioles, which kept dart- 

 ing at the Owl's head as it sat on the ground devouring a young 

 Blackbird." 



I have myself several times found this little owl by investigating the 

 wherefor of a screaming mob of jays; and Dr. Mearns (1890) has given 

 another instance of this method of finding them: "It is more apt to be 

 discovered by its spiteful little enemies, the Pygmy Nuthatches, than 

 by ornithologists, and I am indebted to these little birds for most of 

 my specimens. * * * Another captured at Banghart's Station, 

 in Chino Valley, while surrounded by belligerent Plain Titmice in a 

 Cottonwood hedge." 



Winter. — In winter the pygmy owl seems even more abundant in 

 the Yellowstone National Park than it does in summer I then see 

 these little owls, from January to May, on the tips of small cedars, or 

 low limber pines, or dead lodgepole pines, all fluffed out into balls 

 and apparently enjoying warm sunbaths. Usually, at such times, 

 they face toward the sun. At intervals, especially when disturbed, 

 they turn their heads this way and that with quick, nervous jerks. 

 Generally they are very tame and permit me to ride my horse directly 

 under them even when they are only a few inches above me in a low 

 cedar. I have heard that it is easy under such conditions to catch the 

 drowsy pygmy in one's hand, although I have never tried it myself. 

 But Mr. Winson (1926a) writes: "On cold winter days in the sunshine 

 it is possible to catch one 'napping', or so dull that by waving one 

 hand in front of it to hold its attention, and bringing the other hand 

 up from behind, it may be picked off its perch, furious and snappy." 



Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Arnold (1930), of Tower Falls Kanger Station, 

 Yellowstone Park, say: "During a recent three weeks stretch of sub- 



