332 Taverner and Swales, Migration of the Saw-whet Owl. [juiy 



Hawks, as shown by the numerous bunches of feathers scattered 

 over the ground, we attributed the fate of the Saw-whets to this 

 source; but even then we could hardly help wondering that this 

 day-flying hawk could so successfully hunt such a secretive bird, 

 living, as it naturally would during the day, in the dense masses of 

 cedar where we had, by repeated observation, been led to suppose 

 a bird was safe from hawk molestation. 



The mystery, however, was cleared up, to our satisfaction at 

 least, this last fall, October 15, 1910. While looking for warblers 

 in these same red cedar thickets, Taverner discovered, by aid of 

 the scattered plumage, the spot where another of these owls had 

 met an untimely fate. With this incentive, we made a careful 

 search that shortly resulted in Swales discovering what we looked 

 for, half way up a small cedar and about seven feet from the ground. 

 This he secured, but we had hardly properly papered the specimen 

 for carrying when another was seen eating a mouse. On finding 

 itself observed, it rose high up on its legs, leaned forward, and 

 glared at the intruder, still holding the body of the mouse in its 

 bill, exhibiting no fear and only evinced anxiety by following every 

 movement with its golden eyes. Within less than two hours, and 

 in a small part of the thickets, we discovered twelve of these owls. 

 We looked carefully for the young, the albifrons plumage, but 

 without success. 



All birds seen were alert and the majority in the densest red 

 cedar clumps. Most of them were close up against the trunk of 

 their respective trees, and usually about six feet from the ground, 

 the highest being about twelve feet, and the lowest four. None 

 showed any fear. But one flushed, and that was only when the 

 tree it was on was jarred in our passage ; even then it flew but a few 

 yards and allowed our close approach. None uttered any sound 

 except the usual owlish snapping of the bill. We collected what we 

 thought was a moderate number and returned to camp for a camera 

 with which we returned later. 



We separated on reaching the owl grounds and in about five 

 minutes both had located owls. Taverner immediately set up the 

 instrument to photograph his, but the situation was bad and a jar 

 of the branch it was on, frightening the subject, it flew away and 

 was not followed, but the paraphernalia was taken over to where 



