April 1904] BIRDS OF THE HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA. 9 



Megascops flammeolus (Kaup). Flammulated Screech Owl. 



Although the Flammulated Screech Owl is quite a common migrant 

 in the Huachucas some years, I believe that but very few remain to 

 breed, the bulk of them going farther north. In 1896 eight, and in 1902 

 seven, specimens were secured ; and of these, I believe all but one were 

 migrating birds. The exception was a female, taken, with a set of two 

 ba r dly incubated eggs, by H. G. Rising on June 7, 1896. Of the others the 

 earliest secured was on April 22, 1902, and the latest on May 12 of the 

 same year. All were shot where they were sitting in the trees, usually 

 in' dense thickets almost impossible to penetrate; and this fact may 

 perhaps account for so few specimens of this bird being taken, as quite 

 half of those secured were found while searching for the nest of such 

 bflrds as bred in the thick brush. On May 5, 1902, O. W. Howard 

 secured two females in some willows on the San Pedro River, fifteen 

 miles from the mountains and an exceptionally low altitude for this 

 species, about 3000 feet. The breeding bird mentioned was taken at 

 about 8000 feet elevation ; and all the others, from the base of the moun- 

 tain (about 4500 feet) up to 6000 feet. In 1903 I did not see a singl'e 

 Flammulated Screech Owl, and it is noteworthy that cincracens was also 

 much more scarce than it had been during the previous year. The 

 stomachs of such as I examined contained nothing but beetles and other 

 insects, indicating an entirely insectivorus diet on the part of this species. 



Bubo virginianus pallescens Stone. Western Horned Owl. 



I have seen but very few Horned Owls in the Huachucas, although 

 along the San Pedro River it appears to be of fairly common occurrence. 

 In 1896 one made his home in a cavity in the face of a high precipice 

 overlooking our camp, and hardly a night passed that we did not see 

 him appear about dusk, and after a few preliminary hoots, start out in 

 search of provender. A male I secured on May 6, 1903, at the mouth of 

 Miller Canyon, was evidently not breeding. I have heard one or two 

 others hooting at various times, but these two are all that I have seen 

 and I believe that they are anything but common in the mountains. The 

 male bird mentioned above is exceedingly pale in coloration, more 

 so than any other Southern Arizona specimen I have seen, though the 

 plumage is fresh and unworn and does not appear to be faded by the 

 action of the sun. The general appearance of the upper parts is dark 

 gray, with the head and ear tufts rather darker, but with very little of 

 brownish or rusty markings anywhere. The throit, median line of 

 breast, abdomen, tibiae and feet are pure white, while the sides of the 

 body are white, finely marked with narrow, dark vermiculations. 



Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea (Bonaparte). Burrowing Owl. 



Burrowing Owls are to be seen in considerable numbers in the vari- 

 ous prairie dog "towns" between the Huachucas and the San Pedro 

 River, and a few are scattered elsewhere over the prairies, some coming 

 quite to the base of the mountains. 



Glaucidium gnorna Wagler. Pygmy Owl. 



I have seen but very few Pygmy Owls in the mountains, and though 

 very possibly resident there, I doubt if they are very abundant. On 

 August 3, 1502, I saw a pair of very ragged birds but was unable to 

 secure either of them. 



