ELF OWL 



but wbicb iniist have been struck by a stray shot." 

 Chib, vol. VIII, p. 28.) 



Little or uothing is kuowii of the food of this 

 ably it feeds ou insects and the smaller rodents. 



DESCRIPTION. 



201 



(Bull. Nutt. Oruith. 



sx)eeies, though prob- 



Smallest Owl inhabiting- the United States. Lower leg longer than 

 middle toe, scantily haired; tail lessthanhalf as long as wing, straight 

 across the end. JSTo ear tufts. Above, grayish or brownish, finely 

 mottled with darker and indistinctly speckled with pale rusty; tail 

 brownish, covered by five or six narrow, usually interrupted, bands of 

 pale brown or rusty ; eyebrows, space in front of eyes and under chin, 

 white. Below white, marked with longitudinal blotches of brown or 

 rusty. 



Length: 5.50 to 6.25 inches (140 to 159'"™) ; extent, 14.25 to 15.25 inches 

 (362 to 387™'"); wing, 4 to 4.40 inches (101 to 111"'"'); tail, 1.90 to 

 2.30 inches (47 to SS""™). 



Table showing the results of examinations of three stomachs of the Elf Owl 

 ( Micropallas wh iineiji) . 



