136 EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS WEST OF 100TH MERIDIAN. 



soon saw the form of a diminutive owl clearly defined against the sky, 

 and I think it probably was the mate of the one shot. Upon shooting, 

 the bird fell part way down, but, recovering itself, I obtained a second's 

 glimpse of it as it flew out, and was lost in the deep shadows of the 

 canon's sides. 



139. Bubo virginianus (Gm.), var. arcticus, Swains. Western Great 



Horned Owl. 



The only specimen taken is quite typical of the paler, grayer race, 

 which represents the Horned Owl in the West. The species was very 

 abundant, and scarcely a camp was made but we were made aware of 

 the presence of these owls by their loud hootings through the night. 

 During the day they remain hidden in the deep, dark caiioiis, or among 

 the thick foliage of the largest cottonwoods. 



140. Glaucidium passerinum (L.), var. caUfornwum, Scl. Galiforniau 



Pigmy Owl. 



This little owl is apparently quite common in Arizona and New Mex- 

 ico. It does not appear to be at all a nocturnal species, but was ob- 

 served to be most active in the early morning and late afternoon, and 

 on one occasion was seen flying at broad noonday. Their notes are quite 

 similar to those of the Mottled Owl (scopsmaccalli), by imitating which I 

 succeeded in enticing one, step by step, till he finally sat on the top of a 

 small oak within thirty feet, and scanned my person with evident aston- 

 ishment, and, I could not help fancying, with an air of abused confidence. 



A young bird collected by Dr. Newberry, jr., is quite appreciably dif- 

 ferent from the adult. The entire plumage has more of a slaty tinge, 

 while the back and under parts are strongly suffused with rufous. The 

 head above lacks the numerous rounded reddish-white spots, but each 

 feather has a single elongated white spot at the tend of the shaft. 



141. Speotyto eunicularia (Mol.), var. liypugcea, Bonap. Burrowing Owl. 

 This curious owl appears not to be a very abundant resident either in 

 Arizona or New Mexico, at least in those portions visited by the survey 

 during the past season. They prefer the lower plains, and are not found, 

 I think, at a higher altitude than 6,000 feet. Near Zuiii, N. Mex., Forts 



