290 BULLETIN 17 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



closely resembles a cluster of leaves. Whether this posture is assumed to avoid 

 detection, or is merely a position preparatory to flight, could not be determined, 

 as, although the owls often hold this position for several minutes, they do not 

 always fly. 



Voice. — Mr. Jacot (1931) says of the calls of this owl: 



The mating song or call of the male consists of about six rapidly delivered 

 notes. These notes sound very much like boo or boot, and are delivered about as 

 fast as a person can count: boot-boot-boot-boot-boot-boot. The male may be heard 

 calling a half mile or more away, but at times the call may be uttered so softly 

 that the sound carries only a few feet. The female also gives the mating call in 

 an emergency, but at a higher pitch. 



There are several alarm notes used by both the male and the female. A 

 worried chang is most frequently given, especially by the female. A rather mourn- 

 ful choo-you — coo-coo is uttered when the owls are greatly disturbed. They also 

 snap their bills as other screech owls do. Both birds give clucking notes while 

 courting, or when one or the other of the owls flies into a tree where its mate may 

 be. 



Mr. Brandt says further, in his notes: "We found the spotted 

 screech owl to be not uncommon in Sunnyside Canyon, where a pair 

 dwelt about every mile or so. As soon as it becomes dark, this little 

 bird begins to bark its four, even-pitched notes that are more doglike 

 than those of the screech owl. It is tireless in its refrain, which may 

 continue uninterrupted for an hour or more, usually coming down from 

 well up on the canyon side. His voice is gentle, yet has far-reaching 

 power, and somewhat resembles the sound produced by blowing across 

 the opening of a bottle. On one occasion a spotted screech owl, from 

 high up on the mountainside, was singing incessantly his nocturnal 

 calls. As it was a long climb up to meet him, it was suggested that 

 we try to lure him down to us by squeeching. Very promptly, after 

 the first few squeeches, his answering voice was notably louder, hence 

 we surmised closer, and before long, like a shadowy bat in the darkness, 

 he alighted in a tree only 5 feet over our heads." 



A. J. van Eossem (1936) adds to our knowledge of this rare owl, as 

 follows: 



About 9 o'clock on the evening of June 4, 1931, the notes of a small owl were 

 heard in the sycamore and oak timber along the stream which runs past the resort 

 in Madera Canon in the Santa Ritas. These notes, while unmistakably "screech 

 owl" in character, were very different in cadence from those of any member of 

 the asio group covered by my experience. They consisted of a repetition of three 



short notes, a slight pause, and a fourth, terminal note, " -, -, -, 



-, -." A whistled imitation soon decoyed the caller, which proved 



to be a Spotted Screech Owl, within range. On June 5, a night trip of several 

 hours' duration pretty well prospected Madera Canon between the resort at 5500 

 feet altitude and Littleshot Cabin at 7000 feet. Among other nocturnal rarities 

 encountered, Spotted Screech Owls were located, by the unmistakable call notes, 

 at five different points and by calling the birds from a central location I had 

 four individuals close to me at one time. 



