THE SAW-WHET OWL. 469 



Range in Washington. — Rare winter visitant, not impossibly summer resi- 

 dent in mountains. 



Authorities. — Cr\ptoglau.v tcugiiiahni vichardsonl, Edson, Auk, \ ol. XXV., 

 Oct. 1908. p. 433. Dawson, Ibid, p. 84. ( T ). E. 



Specimens. — C. E. 



ALTHO bearing a close resemblance in both appearance and economy to 

 the Saw-whet Owl, this diminutive mouser is, nevertheless, of strictly northern 

 stock. The summer ranges of the two birds may possibly overlap somewhere 

 in British Columbia, but the rare occurrence of ricJiardsoni with us in w^inter 

 marks the southern limit of occasional migration: while the Saw-whet Owl 

 passes somewhat beyond our northern limits, only by courtesy of the pro- 

 jected mild climate. 



On the Yukon the Eskimo call this little Owl Tuk-whe-ling-uk, "the blind 

 one," because, owing to the unfitness of its eyes to endure daylight, it may 

 easilv be captured in the hand, when discovered closely ensconced in some 

 thicket. The children make pets of them, and they soon learn to relish a 

 diet of fish, in place of their accustomed fare of mice and birds. Nelson 

 heard one utter a peculiar grating cry in the mating season, while Dall 

 attributes to them cries like those of human beings. The eggs have only 

 once been taken: and the manner of nesting, whether in deserted Woodpecker 

 holes, or of "made" nests in thickets, is not certainlv known. 



No. 187. 



SAW-WHET OWL. 



A. O. U. No. 372. Glaux acadicus (Gmcl.). 



Description. — Adult: Without ear-tufts: upperparts dull reddish brown, the 

 crown and lateral edges of disk narrowly streaked, and the remaining upperparts 

 more or less broadlv but sparingly spotted with white : below white, broadly and 

 heavily streaked with cinnamon-rufous; legs, feet, and crissum tawny white or 

 ochraceous, unmarked : facial disk white above, fulvous and brown below, the eyes 

 black-margined, and the disk brown-edged below, contrasting with narrow pectoral 

 white : facial disk blackish strongly contrasting with white eyebrows ; iris yellow : 

 bill black. Immature: Like adult, but without white spotting above: breast, like 

 back and belly, ochraceous. Length 7.25-8.50 ( 1 84.2-21 5.9 1 ; wing 5.00-5.90 

 (127-149.9) ; tail 2.80-3.25 (71. 1-82.6) : bill including cere .66 ( 16.8 ). 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink size but appearing larger : larger than Pygmy 

 Owls (Glaucidiniii glioma sp.): body longer, not chunky: tail not conspicuous nor 

 held at angle; without ear-tufts as compared with Otus asio group. 



Nesting. — Nest: in hollow trees, deserted woodpecker holes, etc. Eggs: 4-7, 

 white, subspherical. Av. size, 1.20x1.00 (30.5x25.4). Season: April-June, 

 according to altitude ; one brood. 



