348 LAND-BIRDS. 



B. ACADICA. Acadian Owl. Saw-whet Oiol. In Mas- 

 sachusetts, not common, unless in autumn.* 



a. When erect, about six inches high. Above, chocolate 

 brown; head streaked, back spotted, and tail barred, with 

 white. Beneath, white, streaked (in blotches) with reddish 

 chocolate. (Tarsal feathers, tawny.) Eyes, encircled by 

 black. Bill, black. (In A, " bill, yellow.") 



b. " The eggs are generally laid in the hole of a tree, and 

 are four to six in number." f An egg, which I found in a pine 

 wood near Boston, about the first of May, evidently belonged 

 to this bird. It was lying on the ground (not far from a tree, 

 in which I had previously seen an Acadian Owl), and to it were 

 attached two feathers, which correspond exactly to those of 

 a stuffed " Saw-whet." The egg was cold, and slightly cracked. 

 It has a remarkably smooth, white shell, and measures about 

 1.00 X .90 of an inch. 



c. The little Acadian Owls are residents throughout New 

 England, but near Boston, so far as I have observed, they are 

 very rare in summer, being most numerous in autumn. They 

 are apparently more social than other species, as " they have 

 been known to occur in small parties." I have, however, al- 

 ways met them singly. During the day, they remain in woods 

 and swamps, often ensconced in the hole of a tree, though they 

 sometimes perch on a bough. They may be closely approached 

 on a bright day, and if disturbed do not fly far. Immediately 

 after sunset, however, they become full of animation and cour- 

 age, and even venture into open lands. One would suppose it 

 difficult for them to find enough food, but they undoubtedly 

 surprise small birds at roost, easily detect the slightest move- 

 ment of any small quadruped in the grass, and readily pick up 

 such insects as sing through the night, or indeed others. They 

 probably do not often feed on reptiles. 



d. Their extraordinary love-notes are doubly deceptive, 



* A comparatively common resident during autumn and winter, when, at 



of northern New England, breeding irregular intervals, it is often taken in 



also sparingly and locally in Massa- considerable numbers. W. B. 



chusetts and rarely in Connecticut. In f Sets of seven eggs are not un- 



most parts of southern New England, common. W. B. 

 however, it is seldom seen, excepting 



