66 BIRDS OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN 

 14. SCREECH OWL 



Otus asio 



About three o'clock in the afternoon of 

 December 30, 1908, Mr. Eugene E. Caduc 

 sent me word that there was a small owl on 

 the Common near to Joy Street, and very 

 kindly kept the bird in view until I could 

 reach the spot and designate its name. It 

 proved to be a Screech Owl of the gray 

 phase. It occupied a horizontal bough of a 

 linden tree which stands by the footpath 

 from Spruce Street to Winter Street. The 

 afternoon was evenly clouded, and against 

 the gray sky the form of the little owl with 

 ears erect was clearly silhouetted. It did 

 not move in the space of an hour's time, 

 except once or twice to turn the head a 

 little sidewise. One could see the chilly 

 breezes blow its feathers, and it stood ap- 

 parently contented and happy, giving no 

 attention to a little group of persons who 

 stood wondering beneath it or to passers-by 

 who looked upon it with an interest which 

 the rarity of the occurrence awakened. 



