268 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



tutes the chief diet of the awl. The skulls contained in the pel- 

 lets belonged to the species Microties ochrogaster (Wagner). 



During the late fall of 1917, a large scattered flock of these 

 owls were seen in the open bottom country near the mouth of 

 Big Blue, where they remained until well into December. Many 

 hundred acres of newly formed land overgrown with typical 

 sand-bar and lowland vegetation, bordered with thickets of 

 young willows, afforded ideal roosting places. An unusual fea- 

 ture of their stay at this time was their feeding on the Tree 

 Sparrows that frequented the willow thickets in droves. Nearly 

 every pellet opened contained skull, sternum or other token of 

 these small birds. Here is an indictment against this owl not 

 corroborated in the books. The fact of their resorting to this 

 unusual diet, as well as their moving further south before the 

 arrival of very severe weather conditions, may be accounted for 

 by the absence of their favorite rodent prey on this new 

 ground. 



The only breeding pair so far discovered in this vicinity was 

 reported by Smithson of Warrensburg during the summer of 

 1903. 



STRIX VARIA VARIA Barton. Barred Owl. 

 Common resident. 



The Barred Owl is a denizen of the woods about the city 

 where it nests in cavities of large trees and where it is present 

 during the entire year. The wooded bottom lands are favorite 

 haunts and even such places as Fairmount Park, Mount Wash- 

 ington, Swope Park and other wooded tracts close in, have har- 

 bored nesting pairs of these big owls. 



CRYPTOGLAUX ACADICA ACADICA (Gmelin). Saw-whet Owl. 

 Very rare winter visitant. 



Only one specimen of this small owl has so far been reported. 

 One was found dead on Summit Street in 1894 by Bryant. 



OTUS ASIO ASIO (Linn.). 



OTUS ASIO NAEVIUS Gmelin. Proposed April, 1917. Screech 



Owl. 

 Very common resident. 



The Screech Owl is a common bird within the city, nesting in 

 early March about the boulevards and parks, wherever suit- 



