BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 153 



rocky retreats, it is seldom met with, hence is regarded as one of our 

 rarest residents. The young- of this bird, taken in the vicinity of Phila- 

 delphia, have been seen by Prof. Gentry, and in E. A. Samuel's work, 

 " Our Northern and Eastern Birds" the following interesting account is 

 given by Eichard Christ of a nest that he found April 25, 1867, at 

 Nazareth, Pennsylvania: 



" This, the smallest of all our owls, is also the most rare, but a single 

 specimen being seen in a period of several years. It is very tame when 

 found, permitting one to approach very close to it before flying away. 

 I am inclined to think that it sees less in the daytime than any other 

 species of our owls, for one can touch it without being noticed, the bird 

 taking flight more from alarm to its sense of hearing than any other 

 cause. 



" It generally frequents stone quarries or piles of rocks, beneath which 

 it takes shelter ; and it is from this habit that the bird here is known by 

 the name of 'Stone Owl.' On the 25th of April, 1867, 1 was so fortu- 

 nate as to find the nest of one of these birds. It was placed or located 

 in the hollow of a tree, about twenty feet from the ground ; the en- 

 trance to the hole was very small, scarcely two inches in diameter. On 

 climbing the tree and looking in the hollow, I discovered sitting on the 

 bottom what I supposed might be a small owl. Uncertain as to the 

 truth, I introduced a small stick into the hole, and turned the bird over 

 upon her side, she making no struggle whatever, but remaining per- 

 fectly still as if dead. I discovered that she was sitting upon a single egg. 

 Supposing that she had but just commenced laying, I left her, and did 

 not molest her again for several days ; on the fifth day after I again ex- 

 amined the nest, and found the bird on her egg, none other having been 

 laid. I enlarged the hole, and took the egg, leaving the owl quietly sit- 

 ting on the rotten chips which formed the bottom of the nest. 



" The egg was white with a bluish tint, like many of the other owls' 

 eggs, nearly globular in form, and considerably smaller than the egg of 

 the Ked or Mottled Owl." 



Dr. Elliott Coues, in his " Birds of the Northwest" says: " Mr. Gentry 

 informs me of a curious circumstance in regard to this owl. Referring 

 to the association of the Burrowing Owl of the west with the prairie 

 dog, he continues : ' In the hollow of an oak tree, not far from German- 

 town, lives an individual of the common chickaree squirrel (Sciurus 

 hudsonius\ with a specimen of this little owl as his sole companion. 

 They occupy the same hole together in perfect harmony and mutual 

 good-will. It is not an accidental, temporary association, for the bird 

 and the squirrel have repeatedly been observed to enter the same hole 

 together, as if they had always shared the apartment. But what benefit 

 can either derive from the other ? ' " 



Mr. Otto Behr writes me as follows of this species : " The Acadian 

 Owl is quite common here (Lopez, Sullivan county), though not often 



