PIGMY OWL. 
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CHAPTER II. 
PIGMY OR MEDICINE OWL AND NEST—SUPERSTITIOUS DREAD OF 
INDIANS—GOLDEN-CREST AND ITS CRADLE—RUFFED GROUSE. 
THE PIGMY OWL. 
Glaucidium Gnoma, Wagler; Strix passerinoides, Tem.; 
Strix infuscata, Tem.; Glaucidium Californicum, Sclater ; 
the Medicine or Death Owl of the North-west American 
Indians. 
Tuts rare and beautiful little owl, the smallest 
of all the North American species, I shot for the 
first time on Vancouver Island. It has also been 
obtained, though rarely, in Oregon, Washington 
Territory, and California. 
The habits of this tiny bird appear little known. 
Its diminutive size, shy solitary habits—for it 
always hides amongst the thick foliage of the oak 
or pine, except when feeding—renders the task of 
observing it, or obtaining a specimen, at all times 
difficult; hence a few dried skins, from which its 
generic and specific characters have been deter- 
mined, are the only specimens we possess. How 
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