CALIFORNIA PYGMY OWL 421 



I have before me the analysis of 10 stomachs, taken at all seasons 

 of the year and at several well-scattered localities. In general, they 

 confirm field data already given in this article and show that although 

 small birds may be freely caught during the pygmies' nesting time, 

 during the remaining nine months of each year food is largely insects, 

 small mammals, lizards, and even small snakes. 



As to the economic status of this subspecies, we find the statements 

 of W. R. Lord (1913) and a few others that it is actually beneficial. 

 I have no accounts of poultry killing, and Mr. Lord (1913) says it is 

 "altogether harmless in respect to poultry." No doubt the Cali- 

 fornia pygmy owl can kill small game birds, but as yet direct evidence 

 is lacking. The worst charge against it is that it eats valuable small 

 birds. This is attested to by Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway (1905), 

 Bowles (1906b), Dawson (1909), Munro (1919), and Taverner (1926). 

 Their statements, however, are general ones, and may in some cases 

 be repetitions of each other. Among the small birds (summarized 

 from quotations already given) known to be caught are marsh wrens, 

 sparrows, juncos, kinglets, purple finches, Calaveras warblers, tow- 

 nees, Tolmie warblers, willow woodpeckers, vireos, blackbirds, and 

 pine siskins. Summing up all available information, we may say 

 that the food habits of the California pygmy owl appear beneficial 

 during nine months of the year, but the record is marred by exten- 

 sive small-bird killing during the other three months. Until more 

 damaging evidence comes to light, the accused should be given the 

 benefit of the doubt, and not be condemned. 



Behavior. — This small owl has a well-earned reputation for courage, 

 fearlessness, and fine hunting ability. Many ornithologists even go 

 so far as to speak of it as "bloodthirsty", "a fiend", "a villain", and 

 "rapacious." But it would seem better to reserve such severe terms 

 for an intentional evil-doer. I do not know that any one accuses this 

 owl of killing more than it needs. When it finds its prey, it strikes 

 quickly and fearlessly. It does not cause needless suffering. As Mr. 

 Michael says: "He lives by the law of Nature. Every living thing 

 lives at the expense of some other living thing. In many forms of 

 life the process is roundabout; in the case of the pygmy the step 

 between victor and victim is quite direct. Should there evolve a 

 form of life devoid of enemies, this form would sooner or later crowd 

 every other form from the face of the earth. This scheme of Nature 

 in having one form of life five at the expense of some other form is 

 the process employed to maintain its balance. And in this balance 

 each form of life has its place in the scheme of things, its particular 

 niche to fill." 



As with the Rocky Mountain pygmy, the California form was not 

 at first recognized as a daylight species. But Mr. Michael says that 

 his "observations over a number of years in Yosemite Valley seem to 



