248 BULLETIN 170, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



food that lay in the nest. A pellet disgorged on May 27 weighed sixty-two grains, 

 which was one-thirtieth of the weight of the bird that ejected it. 



Dr. Arthur A. Allen (1924) made a series of careful observations on 

 the method of feeding a brood of young screech owls, which he con- 

 fined in a cage in front of a blind, equipped with a lantern, flashlight, 

 and camera. He writes: 



From the outset it was obvious that both parent birds were engaged in caring 

 for the young. * * * They never both came together to feed but frequently 

 when the flash light disturbed one bird before it had time to feed, the other would 

 return with food and both would be near with food in their bills at the same time. 

 The old birds were ordinarily silent in their hunting and feeding but the young 

 birds, after they had been put in the cage, kept up a continuous humming during 

 the night which lasted as long as they were hungry. If one of the young did not 

 give the food call, the old birds paid no attention to him but fed the ones that 

 called. The food was always brought in the bills of the old birds and placed 

 directly into the mouths of the young. Large objects like birds or mice were 

 often brought already partially torn or eaten or they were sometimes torn to 

 pieces in front of the cage before being passed through the wire. Just as often, 

 however, the entire bird was given to the young and they would fight among 

 themselves for it. It was after one such tug-of-war that two of the young attacked 

 the third and picked most of his bones by morning. 



In order to determine the number of feedings, the amount of food, 

 and its nature, George McNeill (Allen, 1924) remained in this blind 

 nearly all night for seven successive nights, June 29 to July G, inclu- 

 sive. The earliest time at which feeding began was 8.25, and the 

 latest was 9.12 p. m.; the earliest time at which feeding ceased was 

 2.50, and the latest was 4.15 a. m. The number of feedings was very 

 variable, being 20, 73, 36, 14, 75, 67, and 72, respectively, on the seven 

 nights. The most intensive feeding was on the night of July 4, when 

 "the young Owls were first fed at 8.34 and between then and 1.40 were 

 fed 75 times, two beetles and 73 moths. The birds then became quiet 

 and as it was very chilly Mr. McNeill left. The next morning I 

 gathered the feathers of six birds that had evidently been fed to the 

 young after 1 .40 ; Phoebe, Scarlet Tanager, Cedar Waxwing, Chipping 

 Sparrow, Redstart, and Catbird." 



From the above records it appears that from the time that the first 

 egg is laid to the time that the young leave the nest about eight weeks 

 have elapsed. Probably the young are watched over, and fed more or 

 less, by their parents for five or six weeks more before they are turned 

 away to shift for themselves. 



Plumages. — When first hatched the young screech owl is covered 

 with pure white down, even to the tips of its toes; it is very attractive 

 at this age. Miss Sherman (1911) suggests: 



As they tumbled about in their nest they very forcibly suggested human babies 

 in fleecy white cloaks that are learning to creep. Held in the hand with their 

 beaks downward and out of sight they looked like diminutive blind kittens; per- 

 haps the most noticeable thing about them at that age was their large heads. But 

 this winning aspect of the nestlings was of short duration. In a few days the pin- 



