402 BULLETIN 17 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



anywhere within tree limits, from 5,000 feet to 10,000 feet above sea 

 level. 



Aretas A. Saunders (1921), speaking of Montana, says: "The 

 only definite knowledge of the nesting of this species in the state 

 is the record of a nest and newly hatched young found on Bridger 

 Creek, Gallatin County, by Mr. Thomas in June, 1909." 



In Colorado these nests have been recorded by W. G. Smith, W. H. 

 Bergtold, and Charles F. Morrison. In this State at least, nesting 

 trees have been at comparatively high altitudes above sea level. 

 Mrs. Bailey (1928) records nesting in New Mexico in old woodpecker 

 holes in trees and stumps. 



Although the locality is at the extreme western limit of the range of 

 this subspecies, Major Bendire (1892) has given us a fine series of 

 notes from Fort Klamath, Oreg. 



During an absence once from Fort Klamath on official matters, one of my men 

 found on June 10, 1883, a burrow occupied as a nest by the true Glaucidium 

 gnoma, which at the time it was first discovered must have contained eggs. 

 * * * The nesting site used was a deserted Woodpecker's excavation, in a 

 badly decayed but still living aspen tree and was about 20 feet from the ground; 

 the cavity was about 8 inches deep and 3)4 wide at the bottom. * * * When 

 the nest was shown me [June 25] I had it examined, and, much to my disgust, 

 found it to contain four young birds about a week or ten days old. * * * The 

 cavity was well filled with feathers of various kinds, and contained besides the 

 young, the female parent and a full grown Say's chipmunk {Tamias lateralis), 

 that evidently had just been carried in, as it had not been touched. The cavity 

 was almost entirely filled up by the contents mentioned. 



Perhaps, when further observations have been made, nesting will be 

 found to be even more like californicum than now seems to be the 

 case. 



Eggs. — Major Bendire (1892) has recorded that four is the usual 

 number of eggs to a set. Mrs. Bailey (1928) says "three or four, 

 white or whitish" eggs, in New Mexico. Edward A. Preble (1930) 

 adds that there are usually "three or four white eggs, a little over an 

 inch in length, and about the size of robins' eggs." As to shape, 

 pygmy eggs are much more nearly round than most other eggs. 



[Author's note: The measurements of 21 eggs average 26.6 by 

 23.2 millimeters; the eggs showing the four extremes measure 29 by 

 24 and 25.4 by 22.3 millimeters.] 



Young. — The young owlets hatch out, as a rule, in June or early in 

 July. They then remain in the nest about four weeks longer, during 

 which time they are carefully looked after by the mother, although 

 the father may bring food to his family at times. Sometimes quite 

 large prey, considering the size of the owls, is brought to the nest. 



Plumages. — So far as known, the first plumage is much like the 

 adult plumage, except that it is grayer and not spotted. When the 

 young leave the nest the head is gray and contrasts with the browner 



