SPARROW OWL— RICHARDSON'S OWL. 129 



" Death Bird," and have a curious custom of answering its cry by a 

 whistle, which if not replied to by the bird, is thought to bespeak 

 the early death of one of the number. In the McKenzie River 

 district Ross says it is found north to Fort Simpson, but is " rather 

 rare." 



There is no record of the Sparrow Owl breeding in Canada, 

 but that it does so I am persuaded. We have yet much to learn 

 respecting the habits and nidification of most of our Owls ; but this 

 investigation will ever be attended with difficulty until more inter- 

 est is awakened in the general community in their behalt. When 

 it is yet uncertain whether the species most commonly met with 

 nest in any part of our Dominion, what can we expect to learn of 

 those whose habits keep them aloof from observation — as is the 

 case with the birds of the present genus. 



The food of the Sparrow Owl is mice and small birds, and in 

 summer largely insects. It is said to build its nest in a pine tree, 

 and use in the construction of this, sticks, grass, and feathers. 

 The egg, like that of other Owls, is colorless, and measures i j^ 

 inches in length, by i inch in breadth. 



There is considerable difference in size between the male and 

 female of this species — though this fact has not been noticed as 

 yet by any writer. This winter (1876) I had the good fortune 

 to obtain three females and two males, and found that the former 

 measured from i^ to 2 inches in excess of the latter in length, 

 and close upon the same figures in expanse. 



The theory advanced some time since in the " Ibis " by Mr. 

 Elliot, o-iving the 6". albifroiis. White-fronted Owl or Kirtland's 

 Owl, as the young of the present species, is hardly worth our 

 consideration, as it will not be for one instant regarded by any of 

 o\.\r field-men in Canada, most of whom have long ere this ascer- 

 tained that the so-called 5". Kirtlandii is simply a peculiar form 

 of the .Saw-whet or Acadian Owl. 



The birds represented on Plate XXM are male and female. 

 They were shot close to the city of Montreal. 



Q 



