474 



THE KENNICOTT SCREECH OWL. 



Kennicott ()\vl, mi ;icc<iuiu nf the i)re\;iiliiig iiiiklness of the winter wcrither, 

 is less often clri\en tn a hinl diet than is tlie eastern cousin. 



Tlie ( )\vls remain in a family S4ri>iii) fm" some weeks after the \oung 

 are al)le to k-ave the nest; and one occasionally conies across them standing 

 as motionless as statues on some horizontal limb at a low level in the woods. 



\Mien the \oung are l)eg"inning to make in(|uiries for themselves, or 

 when faiiiilv cares are quite done, the old birds. wIk.) have previously main- 

 tained a discreet silence, become tuneful — or noisy, according to the recep- 

 tivity of the subject. The\- remain mated until Late in the fall, and i)rob;il)l\- 

 use the calls to keep in touch with each other during the progress of the 

 hunt. The chief call is a tremulous (|ua\-er. exquisitely mournful and sweet 

 to those ears which feel the lure of the wild. It is not a ditticult matter to 



T:il:t'n III Oicf^on. 



riiol.j bv .1. n\ Anllui 



YOUNG SCREECH OWLS. 



OTUS ASIO M,\CFAKLANEI FROM EASTERN OREGON. 



imitate this qua\ering song, esjiecially if one has mastered the use of his 

 palate: and, altiio it is of no interest to the incurious Chickadee, one may call 

 up the ]>roper owner for ins]iection. if he is within ear-shot. 



On the Xisqualh' Flats, in ( )ctober, if one has deterniined to be the 



