334 



LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



small bushes and weeds on a little knoll in the center of a boggy place on 

 a grass covered hillside, near the; head of Tom Bell's Creek, about 4 miles 

 i .isf of the post. Both nests were in similar situations on opposite sides of 

 the canon, and not over half a mile from each other; they were simply 

 slight depressions not more than 2 inches deep, lined with pieces of dry 

 grass and a few feathers from the birds. One of the nests contained four 

 eggs, two of which were slightly incubated; in the other one there were three 

 eggs, which were fresh. 



Both males were hidden in the tall grass close by the nest, and aside 

 from an angry snapping of their mandibles they, as well as the females, made 

 but feeble demonstrations in defense of their nests, merely circling around 

 and alighting near by while I was in the vicinity. One of the birds uttered 

 a weak whistling sort of note two or three times, the others were silent but 

 kept bobbing their heads up and down and snapping then* mandibles at the 

 same time. 



At Camp Harney, Oregon, two of their nests were found in similar 

 situations on side hills in the last week in May, 1876, both containing three 

 nearly fresh eggs, and two others in the following year, on May 1 and May 

 4. The last one was placed in the center of a thick but short bunch of 

 grass on the level open prairie directly south of the post in daily use as a 

 drill ground. I know that some of the men -while drilling must have re- 

 peatedly passed within a couple of feet of this nest, if not directly over it, 

 without flushing the bird. It was finally discovered by one of the lieutenants, 

 whose horse almost stepped on the bird. This nest contained three eggs, two 

 of which were broken either by the hoof of the horse or by the bird in its 

 sudden start. It seems strange that this pair should have chosen such a site, 

 as the drilling certainly commenced before any of their eggs had been laid 

 and was continued daily, except on Sundays. None of the nesting sites found 

 by me were resorted to again either during that or the succeeding year. 



In Kansas and Nebraska they lay about the same time. Mr. H. A. 

 Kline found a nest of this species on May 17, 1883, in Nebraska, containing 

 eight eggs. It was placed on the ground and consisted of a lot of dry prairie 

 grass and hollowed out 2 inches in depth. He says: "My dog was ranging 

 a short distance in front of me when he was suddenly attacked by one of 

 these Owls, which was soon joined by the other (the male), and together they 

 succeeded in driving him from the field. They would swoop from right to 

 left and strike him on the back with their wings. Not being used to such 

 treatment by any member of the feathered tribe, he beat a hasty retreat, fol- 

 lowed |,y both birds, and after chasing him some distance they returned to me 

 and manifested great displeasure by swooping very close to me and snapping 

 their mandibles, as many Owls do when angry." 1 



Mr. R. S. Williams, of Great Falls, Montana, writes me that he found a 

 nest of this species containing six eggs nearly ready to hatch on June 13, 



'Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. vm, 1883, No. 8, p. 61. 



