Brewster on the Acadian Otvl. 25 



indication of any second plumage on the other parts, but about 

 August 15 a few streaked feathers appeared along the central line 

 of the breast and abdomen, while a little later the moult began 

 over the back and wings and quickly became general. Through 

 the last two weeks of the month the new plumage gained daily, 

 and by Sept, i the final stage was perfected and the bird had be. 

 come a remarkably beautiful Saw-whet Owl. From this it 

 appears that the '•'•albij'rons'" condition is simph' the first plum- 

 age, which in the Saw-whet is apparently better defined (as con- 

 trasted with the earlier downy stage and later autumnal plumage), 

 as well as longer worn, than in most other Owls. 



The specimen just mentioned is still (at the date of this writ- 

 ing, Dec. i) alive and well. It has become rather wilder and 

 less gentle than formerly, and lately has acquired a habit of swel- 

 ling its plumage and snapping the bill when closely approached. 

 Shortly after the moult it began a new cry, which is now fre- 

 quently heard at night and occasionally also in the day-time. 

 This utterance consists of a series of five or six low, chuckling 

 but nevertheless whistled calls, which remind one of that pecu- 

 liar, drawling soliloquy sometimes indulged in by a dejected hen 

 on a rainy day. I cannot reconcile these notes with descriptions 

 of the saw-filing ones which are supposed to have given the spe- 

 cies its name, but they perhaps represent the unfinished perform- 

 ance of a young bird. The bat-like squeaking was discontinued 

 before the bird began to whistle, and has never since been heard. 



At the time of writing the article already referred to I received 

 the impression that the nest then mentioned was the only one 

 that Mr. Perham had found. But I have since learned that, in- 

 cluding the two taken the present season, he has actually examined 

 no less than seven during the past ten years, all of which occurred 

 in or near the township of Tyngsboro'. Most of these nests 

 were, however, broken up by red squin^els before the full com- 

 plement of eggs was laid. The nesting places were usually 

 of the artificial sort which I have already described, but occa- 

 sionally use was made of a deserted Flicker's hole. Mr. Perham 

 frequently hears the notes of Saw-whets during the month of 

 March, and believes that many pairs breed about Tyngsboro' 

 every season. The region is a heavily wooded one and apparently 

 oflers exceptional attractions to all kinds of Raptorial birds. 



