REPORT UPON ORNITHOLOGICAL SPECIMENS. 



135 



STRIGID^E (the Owls). 



136. Otus brachyotus, (Gmel.) Short-eared Owl. 



A single specimen obtained near Camp Bowie, Southeastern Arizona, 

 which was the only occasion the species was met with. This bird was 

 started from a low clamp of bushes on an open plain, and flew in a 

 wild, uncertain manner, as though completely bewildered. It proved, 

 however, no easy matter to get within gun shot of it a second time, and 

 several unsuccessful attempts were made ere a long shot brought it 

 down. 



137. Scops asio (L.), var. maccalli, Oass. Western Mottled Owl. 



This bird was very common, both in Arizona and New Mexico, and 

 is, I think, the most numerous of the family in this region. Whenever 

 our camp chanced to be made near one of the groves of oaks, which are 

 numerous, these owls were sure to be heard soon after dusk, and, not 

 infrequently, several would take up their stations in a tree within a 

 few feet of the camp-fire, and remain for an hour or more, apparently 

 to satisfy their curiosity, uttering, from time to time, their low, respon- 

 sive cries. Their notes vary much in length, but, when full, consist of 

 two prolonged syllables, with quite an interval between, followed by a 

 rapid utterance of six or seven notes, which, at the end, are run 

 together. They are very sociable in their disposition, and as soon as 

 fairly dusk the first call of a solitary bird may be heard issuing from 

 some thicket, where it has remained in concealment during the day. 

 After one or two repetitious, this will be answered by another, perhaps 

 half a mile away, and soon by a third and a fourth, and, as apparent, all 

 coming together; and I have heard at least eight of these owls, all con- 

 gregated within a short distance in the tree-tops. When the band was 

 complete, they would move off, still apparently keeping together, till 

 their notes were lost in the distance. 



138. Scops flammeola, Licht. Flauimulated Owl. 



This rare species has hitherto been known to our fauna through a 

 single specimen taken at Fort Crook, Gal. I think, however, that it 

 may be not uncommon in Arizona, though, like others of this genus, its 

 strictly nocturnal habits render it extremely liable to escape detection. 

 A fine specimen was secured by Dr. Newberry, jr., in a canon thirty 

 miles south of Apache. Having shot a small bird, he was pushing 

 through the brush to pick it up, when this little owl started from a low 

 tree, where it was concealed, probably asleep, and, alighting a few yards 

 distant, he shot it. At the report of his gun, a second flew out from a 

 low bush, but was lost in the thick brush. The following evening, when 

 returning to camp, gun in hand, I was imitating the notes of the Screech- 

 Owl, and was answered by notes similar in character, but shorter and 

 weaker. Stationing myself directly under an oak, the top branches of 

 which I could see outlined against the sky, and continuing the call, I 



