MEXICAN SPOTTED OWL 209 



see a large owl fly from the dense shade of the forest and alight on 

 the dead tree, looking for the expected prey. The owl paid no atten- 

 tion to me and was easily securod. My companion, Rollo H. Beck, 

 obtained two other specimens in the same way. I have no doubt that 

 this owl is much commoner in the heavy coniferous forests of that 

 region than is generally supposed ; but few specimens have been taken 

 there, and none of my Washington friends has been able to find a 

 nest. So far as I know the nest of the northern race has never been 

 found. 



The only published note I can find on the behavior or voice of this 

 owl is the following by C. I. Clay (1911): 



Soon after darkness fell over our camp, we were attracted by an odd, nerve- 

 racking noise. It would start with a kind of long-drawn out whining, gradually 

 increasing to a more grating sound, which gave rise to uncertain thoughts, as to 

 its source. It first seemed on the hill-side across the creek, then came nearer, 

 all the while increasing in distinctness, and finally seemed to be double, with ever 

 increasing loudness, until the woods seemed uncanny. My curiosity was aroused 

 to a nervous pitch, and I found it hard to induce my wife to follow me with a 

 paper torch. * * * After following in the direction of the noise for some little 

 distance, I located the ghostly racket nearly over my head in a large maple tree. 

 The noise never ceased, but was continually repeated; and save the smooth 

 branches, sparingly tipped with rustling leaves, as they swayed under the strain 

 of the gentle night breeze, nothing could be seen except the twinkling blue back- 

 ground. Finally, I remarked, "It's an owl." A spread of wings was plainly visible 

 now, and right on a bare limb, not over three feet above my head, sat an inquisi- 

 tive owl with craning neck. Then came another from higher up and perched 

 beside the first. They were attracted by the light, and sat there stretching their 

 necks, with as much curiosity as I had shown, at the sound of a noise that seemed 

 almost panther-like." 



STRIX OCCIDENTALIS LUCIDA (Nelson) 



mexican spotted owl 

 Plate 51 



HABITS 



Based on a single specimen from "the forested mountains about the 

 southern end of the Mexican tableland (above 6,500 feet)", Dr. E. W. 

 Nelson (1903) described the Mexican spotted owl as "darker and with 

 much less yellowish buffy suffusion throughout than in S. occidentale; 

 white markings larger and clearer white." He says further: "The 

 shade of brown in S. o. lucidum approaches more nearly to that of 

 S. o. caurinum than to that of typical occidentale, yet owing to the 

 greater intensity of the buffy suffusion and the small size of the white 

 spots on both upper and under parts of S. o. caurinum it is much more 

 distinct from lucidum than is occidentale." 



Some time later Harry S. Swarth (1910b) discovered that the 

 Arizona bird is distinct from the California bird and named the 

 former S. o. huachucae, based also on a single specimen; he described 



