THE MACFARLANE SCREECH OWL. 475 
first man at a given “blind,” he may hear at the same time from the adjacent 
woods the somber hooting of the Dusky Horned Owl, gruff and dreadful, 
the mellow wailing of the Kennicott Screech Owl, and the ghoulish tittering 
of the California Pygmy Owl. If to this be added the quacking of restless 
ducks, the bellowing of startled herons, and the screaming of prowling 
minks, one almost regrets the coming day with its prosy restrictions and 
unmysterious commonplaces. 
No. 190. 
MACFARLANE’S SCREECH OWL. 
A. O. U. No. 373 h. Otus asio macfarlanei (Brewster). 
Description.—Similar to O. a. kennicotti, but lighter; upperparts sooty gray 
or buffy brown with more sharply defined black shaft-streaks, and with 
markings of wings lighter ochraceous buff or cream; underparts still more sharply 
streaked and elaborately cross-barred with black—gray phase much more common. 
Measurements somewhat less than those of kennicotti. 
Recognition Marks.—As in preceding, lighter. 
Nesting.—Much as in O. a. kennicottii. Eggs: 4-6, Av. size 1.48 x 1.26 
(37.5 x 32). Season: March 20-April 30; one brood. 
General Range.—East of the Cascades in Washington, interior southern 
British Columbia, southward to central Oregon and eastward into Montana 
CAR OMUS): 
Range in Washington.—Not common resident east of the Cascades, more 
common in southeastern portion of State. 
Authorities.—Scops asio kennicotti, Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. VII. 
isa, 27s IDF, SIs Ic 
Specimens.—P'. 
We are chiefly indebted to Captain Charles Bendire for our knowledge 
of this species in Washington. I have met with it casually at Ahtanum (in 
Yakima County ) and Wallula only, and there are no other published records 
of its occurrence. 
While stationed at Fort Walla Walla in 1881 and 1882, Bendire 
took five nests of this species. He found that they were unable to use 
old Woodpecker nests because none were large enough to accommodate 
them. The mating season began early in March, and thruout that month 
their “doleful notes” could be heard every evening soon after sundown; 
