424 Bowtss, Kennicott’s Screech Oul. ea 
what glossy, with more or less nest stain according to the state 
of incubation. They are usually nearly spherical in shape, like 
the eggs of most owls, but occasionally there is a slightly elliptical 
tendency. The size is, perhaps, greater than any of the eggs 
of the other Screech Owls, and they are a source of never failing 
surprise to me when I compare them with the sitting bird which 
looks puny beside them. The average measurements of eggs 
from this locality is 1.59 X 1.31 inches, the extremes being 1.48 X 
1.27 inches in the above mentioned set of two eggs, and 1.65 X 
1.35 inches in the set of four. It will doubtless be a matter of 
interest to give the measurements of a complete set of two eggs 
taken at Victoria, B. C., by Mr. Walter F. Burton of that city. 
These measured 1.42 X 1.26 and 1.42 X 1.24 inches, but I am 
unable to say how nearly typical they may be for eggs from that 
locality. 
In regard to their powers of sight it is my opinion that their 
sight is not very greatly impaired by daylight unless there is 
unusually bright sunshine. If the eggs are incubated to some 
extent the sitting bird may be taken from the nest and handled 
at will, but it is doubtful if the ight has much if any dazing effect 
as has been suggested. They appear just as inactive if they are 
not taken out of the hole, permitting the eggs to be removed from 
beneath them without remonstrance and with very little movement. 
The only set of fresh eggs that I have ever seen were in a nest found 
by Mr. E. A. Kitchin, of Tacoma, and in this instance the actions 
of the sitting bird were entirely different. Upon putting my arm 
into the cavity it was greeted by a rapid snapping of the beak and 
fluttering of wings. As we had no idea what might be in the hole 
my arm was very promptly withdrawn, being at once followed by 
the owl itself. She sat in the entrance for a moment looking at 
us in an extremely hostile fashion and then darted swiftly out of 
sight through the trees, seeming to see perfectly well where she 
was going. Another time I was attempting to “squeak” up some 
small birds in a thicket when one of these owls flew up and perched 
on a limb within three feet of my head. I remained perfectly 
motionless and the bird stared hard at me for a while and then 
looked rapidly around in all directions. The body was bent 
forward and the ear tufts laid back, making as menacing and 
