228 BULLETIN 17 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



CRYPTOGLAUX FUNEREA MAGNA (Buturlin) 



TENGMALM'S OWL 

 HABITS 



This is not the well-known Tengmalm's owl of Europe, but another 

 of those light-colored races of Siberian birds that has occurred as a 

 straggler in North American territory. Dr. Barton W. Evermann 

 (1913) reported, under the name of Cryptoglaux funerea junerea, the 

 capture of a Tengmalm's owl on St. Paul Island, in the Pribilof group, 

 on January 26, 1911. It was caught alive in the village by a native 

 and brought to Dr. Walter L. Halm. "The stomach was empty save 

 for a few hairs. This is the first record for America of this interesting 

 little Owl." 



The specimen is now in the United States National Museum and has 

 been referred to the race of Tengmalm's owl which inhabits the Kam- 

 chatka and Kolyma districts in northeastern Siberia. According to 

 Hartert's (1920) description, this is a well-marked race, somewhat 

 larger than the European race and lighter-colored, and slightly 

 larger and much lighter-colored than our Richardson's owl. The 

 white markings on the upper parts predominate more than in other 

 races, and the dark markings on the breast and flanks are narrower. 



I can find nothing relating to the habits of this race, which probably 

 do not differ essentially from those of the European or the American 

 races. 



CRYPTOGLAUX ACADICA ACADICA (Gmelin) 



saw-whet owl 

 Plates 57-60 



HABITS 



I shall never forget the thrill I experienced when I first met this 

 lovely little owl. It was in my boyhood days, and I was returning 

 home just as darkness was coming on. As I was leaving the woods, 

 a small, shadowy form flitted out ahead of me and alighted on a small 

 tree within easy gunshot; it flew like a woodcock, but I knew that 

 woodcocks do not perch in trees. I was puzzled, so I put in a light 

 charge and shot it. I was surprised and delighted when I picked it 

 up and admired its exquisite, soft plumage and its big, yellow eyes. 

 I had never seen so small an owl, or one so beautiful. After some 

 research in the public library, I learned its identity, and eventually 

 had it mounted by a boy friend who knew how to "stuff" birds. 

 Many years passed before I ever saw another. 



This little owl is widely distributed throughout much of North 

 America, but it is so nocturnal and retiring in its habits that it is 

 seldom seen and is probably much commoner than it is generally 

 supposed to be. Unlike the screech owl and the barred owl, it is 



