46 ' NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



nest and eggs to have been secured. The takmg of Kirtland's Owl, which 

 is now known to be the immature bird of this species, near tliat city, as 

 well as in Eacine, and at Hamilton, Canada, is also suggestive that this Owl 

 may breed in those localities. 



Dr. Townsend is said to have found this Owl in Oregon, Dr. Gambel met 

 with it in California, Mr. Audubon has taken it both in Kentucky and in 

 Louisiana, Mr. Wilson met with it in New Jersey, Mr. McCullock in Nova 

 Scotia, and Dr. Hoy in Wisconsin. Dr. Newberry met with this bird in 

 Oregon, but saw none in California. Dr. Suckley obtained it at the Dalles, on 

 the north side of the Columbia, in December. This was several miles from 

 the timbered region, and the bird was supposed to l)e living in the basaltic 

 cliffs of the vicinity. Dr. Cooper found one at Vancouver in February. It 

 was dead, and had apparently died of starvation. Professor Snow speaks of 

 it as rare in Kansas. Mr. Boardman and Professor Verrill both give it as 

 resident and as common in Maine. It is rather occasional and rare in East- 

 ern Massachusetts, and ]\Ir. Allen did not find it common near Springfield. 

 On one occasion I found one of these birds in April, at Naliant. It was ap- 

 parently migrating, and had sought shelter in the rocky cliffs of that penin- 

 sula. It was greatly bewildered by the light, and was several times almost 

 on the point of being captured by hand. 



This Owl is not unfrequently kept in confinement. It seems easily rec- 

 onciled to captivity, becomes quite tame, suffers itself to be handled by 

 strangers without resenting the familiarity, but is greatly excited at the sight 

 of mice or rats. Captain Bland had one of these birds in captivity at Hali- 

 fax, which he put into the same room with a rat. The bird immediately 

 attacked and killed the rat, but died soon after of exhaustion. 



The notes of this Owl, during the breeding-season, are said to resemble 

 the noise made by the filing of a saw, and it is known in certain localities 

 as the Saw-Whet. Mr. Audubon, on one occasion, hearing these notes in a 

 forest, and unaware of their source, imagined he was in the vicinity of a 

 saw-mill. 



According to Mr. Audubon, this Owl breeds in hollow trees, or in the de- 

 serted nests of other birds ; and lays from four to six glossy-white eggs, which 

 are almost spherical. He states, also, that lie found near Natchez a nest 

 in the broken stump of a small decayed tree not more than four feet high. 

 He also mentions the occasional occurrence of one of these Owls in the midst 

 of one of our crowded cities. One of them was thus taken in Cincinnati, 

 where it was found resting on the edge of a child's cradle. Mr. McCulloch, 

 quoted by Audubon, gives an interesting account of the notes and the veu- 

 triloquial powers of this bird. On one , occasion he heard what seemed to 

 him to be the faint notes of a distant bell. Upon approaching the place 

 from which these sounds proceeded, they appeared at one time to be in 

 front of him, then behind him, now on his riglit hand, now on his left, 

 again at a great distance, and then close behind him. At last he dis- 



