STRiaiD.E — THE OWLS. 



83 



Glaiicidiiim <ulifnrnicum . 



The Glaucidium californicum requires comparison only with the G. 

 passerinmn of Europe, to which it is quite closely related, though easily dis- 

 tinguishable by the characters pointed 

 out in the diagnoses ; it is not at all 

 like gno7na, nor indeed any other 

 American species, with wliich it has 

 been confounded by nearly all orni- 

 thologists, even by Cabanis, in his 

 excellent paper above cited. 



I have seen only one Mexican speci- 

 men of this species, which is one in 

 Mr. Lawrence's collection ; the locality 

 is not given, but it is probably from 

 the higher regions of the interior. It 

 differs in no respect, except in size, 

 from North American examples ; it 

 measures, wing, 3.40 ; tail, 2 60. 



Habits. This species, one of the 

 smallest of our North American Owls, was first obtained on the Columbia 

 Kiver by Dr. Townsend, near Fort Vancouver; and subsequently, Dr. Merideth 

 Gairdner procured several others from the same locality, which were sent to 

 the Edinburgh Museum. Dr. Townsend's specimen was said to have been 

 taken on the wing at midday. 



Dr. Cooper met with a single specimen in Washington Territory early iu 

 November, 1854. He observed it among a flock of Sparrows, that did not 

 seem at all disturbed by its presence. At first lie mistook it for one of these 

 birds. Its stomach was found to contain only insects. 



Dr. Suckley obtained two specimens at Paget Sound, where he found it 

 moderately abundant. It seemed to be diurnal in its habits, gliding about 

 in shady situations in pursuit of its prey. He saw one about midday in a 

 shady alder-swamp near Nisqually. It flitted noiselessly past him several 

 times, alighting near by, on a low liranch, as if to examine the intruder. 



Near a small lake in the neighljorhood of Fort Steilacoom, Dr. Suckley 

 frequently heard the voice of a diminutive Owl, which he supposed to come 

 from one of these birds, as this is the only small species of the family he 

 ever saw in that neighborhood. The notes were subdued and clear, like the 

 soft, low notes of a flute. 



Dr. Newberry procured specimens of the Pigmy Owl on the Cascade 

 Mountains, in Oregon, where, however, it was not common. It occurs also 

 in California, as he saw several individuals in San Francisco that liad been 

 obtained in that State, but he did not meet with anv in the Sacramento 

 Valley. It was apparently confined to wooded districts, which is probably 

 the reason why it is not more frequent in the open country of California. 

 He adds that it flies about with great freedom and activity by day, pursuing 



