86 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 



the body is held motionless and the tail waved from side to side. They 

 nest in hollow trees, usually in an old Woodpecker hole. The call reminds 

 one of the Screech Owl's, but is sharper, more shrill. 



150. Gymnasio lawrencii lawrencii (Sclater and Salvin). 



COTUNTO. 



The true Cuban Bare-legged Owl is, like the Parrot, to be considered 

 as confined to eastern Cuba. The western birds are identical with the 

 race which has been supposed to be peculiar to the Isle of Pines. The eastern 

 Owls are decidedly more rufescent, more heavily streaked below, and have 

 fewer and much smaller white spots on the mantle, than the birds from 

 the western range. This species is decidedly larger than the preceding and 

 has long legs. 



It is by no means a common Owl, and, in my experience, — and I 

 have shot some and seen a good many more, — it is confined to limestone 

 crevices and caves. Gundlach speaks of their sallying forth at night from 

 caves and hollow trees, but this cannot be based on actual observation. 



On entering caves in the limestone cliffs one may find an occasional pair 

 in the dusk near the entrance. They take flight and, if the cave's mouth 

 be high, perch upon some lofty shelf; but at times they will fly into the 

 sunlight and perch in a dense bush, if no dark crannies are conveniently 

 accessible, and wait until the intruder has departed. I have found them 

 in most of the limestone sierras of the Island, but probably not over half a 

 dozen pairs in any one year, and apparently no more common in one part 

 of the Island than another. It is well to remember the vast number of 

 caves in Cuba, so after all the aggregate population of these Owls must be 

 considerable. 



151. Gymnasio lawrencii exsul Bangs. 



My Owls from western Cuba agree well with birds from the Isle of 

 Pines. I have discussed habits and distribution under the preceding 

 heading, only failing to mention that I never have heard the note, which 

 Gundlach describes as a prolonged cu-co. 



