l68 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA — PART 2 



from eastern Province of Panama (Rio Boqueron) ; Darien (middle 

 Rio Chucunaque) ; San Bias (Perme, Puerto Obaldia). 



The earliest report is by Sharpe (Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. 2, 

 1875, p. 198) who lists one from "Veragua" (a term that included 

 much of western Panama in early days) collected by Arce. Salvin 

 and Godman (Biol. Centr.-Amer., Aves, vol. 3, 1897, p. 36) assigned 

 this specimen to Veraguas. In examination of this skin in the British 

 Museum I found that it was an immature bird with unspotted crown, 

 without definite locality, sex, or date indicated on the label. The assign- 

 ment to Veraguas is questionable. Griscom received 2 from H. von 

 Wedel, taken at Perme and Puerto Obaldia, San Bias. 



At the end of March 1959, near where the Rio Tuquesa joins the 

 Chucunaque in Darien, my Choco hunter and I heard a distant, 

 whistled note on several occasions, and finally on April 1 the call came 



FrcuRE 26. — Least pygmy owl, buhito enano, Glaucidium minutissimum varum. 



near at hand. The bird, hidden in the high tree crown, answered our 

 imitation of its four notes, and finally came directly overhead but still 

 remained concealed. The first call was given slowly, followed after a 

 slight pause by three in sequence, all low in tone. Finally after nearly 

 an hour Angel saw the bird, took my gun, and fired. With the heavy- 

 bodied, short-tailed specimen in hand I recognized it as this small owl. 

 From the beginning there had been something familiar in the whistle, 

 which then was explained as it is closely similar to that of the related 

 pygmy owl of the north. 



Angel, the Choco, was greatly excited by our specimen, which he 

 identified as the macua, a bird to which country legend attributes 

 magic powers. He examined it admiringly and a little covetously, as 

 he said it was worth much money in Panama City. In the end I saved 

 the eyes, brain, and heart intact from which, as a brnjo (witch doctor) 

 he would make a potent love charm. He also examined the tongue 

 with close attention in order that he might imitate the whistle more 

 seductively. With the owl in hand the presence of numerous small 



