158 ZOOLOGY. 



No. 5897, Santa Clara, Cal., November 5, 1855. Length, 9. 50 inches ; extent, 25. Iris, yellow ; bill, horn color; 

 toes, gray. 



Although obtained by Dr. Suckley at Fort Dalles, I met with none of them in the plains 

 north of the Columbia. There is little doubt, however, of their being found there earlier in 

 summer than I visited that part of the Territory. 



In California this owl lives in the vacant burrows of the California "ground squirrel," 

 [Spcrmoplulus Beecheyi.) I never saw or heard of any burrowing animal as large as this north 

 of the Columbia, except the badger. — C. 



Specimens of this bird T obtained at Fort Dalles. As there are no prairie dogs at Fort 

 Dalles, and but few burrowing animals except the SpermopMlits Douglmsii, or prairie squirrel, 

 whose burrows are too small for the entrance of this bird, I am inclined to think that their 

 abodes in that vicinity are among the fissures and cracks of the basaltic rock so abundant 

 there, rather than in the soft earth. As to the habits of this bird m Oregon I can say nothing, 

 as the specimens I obtained were killed by others. Abundant at the Dalles and probably 

 throughout the timberless interior of both Oregon and Washington, but not seen liy mo ivest 

 of the Cascade mountains. — S. 



GLAUCIDIUM GNOMA, Wagler. 



The Pigmy Owl. 



Glaucidium gnoma, Wagler, Isis, XXV, p. 275, (1832.) — Baird & Cassin, Gen. Eep. Birds, p. G2. 

 " Strix passeririoides, Temm." Aud Orii. Biog. V, p. 271, pi. 432, figs. 4, 5 : octavo edition, I, pi. 30. 

 " Strir infuscata, Temm " Cassin, B. of Cal. & Texas, I, p. 189. 

 Olaucidium calif ornicum, Soi.ateb, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1857, p. 4. 



Sr. Cn. — The smallest of North American owls, and well marked by its dark brown back, dotted with small round spots 

 of dull white. Female largest, and with rather larger spots. 



No. 91f!2, Shoalwater bay, November 1, 1854. Female: length, 7. 50 ; extent, 14 inches. Iris, yellow ; bill and feet pale 

 yellow, the fovmer slightly tinged with green. 



This (the smallest owl found in tlie Territory) I have only seen once, though it seems to be 

 not very imcommon. On the first of November, 1854, I observed it among a flock of sparrows, 

 which did not seem at all frightened by its presence. For some time I thought it was one of 

 them, though its large head and owl-like flight seemed to me strange. It was plainly diurnal 

 in habits, not seeming to seek any shelter from the sunshine, Its stomach contained only 

 insects, and it is probable that it does not often attack birds. — C. 



I have obtained two specimens of this owl at Puget Sound, where it seems to be moderatel)' 

 abundant. It appears to be diurnal in its luibits, gliding about in shady situations in pursuit of 

 its prey. I saw a bird of this kind, about mid-day, in a shady alder swamp near Nisqually. It 

 flitted noiselessly past me several times, alighting near by, on a low branch, as if to examine 

 the intruder. It seemed quite tame and entirely unsophisticated. As I was hunting deer at 

 the time, I refrained, reluctantly, from shooting it. I noticed that in flying the tail was kept 

 rather widely spread. Near a small lake in the neighborhood of Fort Steilacoom I frequently 

 heard the voice of a small owl, the notes of which were subdued and clear, like the low, soft 

 notes of a flute. As the only small owl which I ever saw in the neighborhood belonged to this 

 species, it is probable that the sounds I heard emanated from an individual of the kind.^ — S. 



