Pygmy and Elf Owls 539 



Owl (G. g. californicum) is a darker-colored race, which is an inhabitant of, and 

 breeds in, the timbered regions along the Pacific coast from middle California 

 to Oregon and British Columbia; this form is replaced in the Cape region of 

 Lower California by Hoskin's Pygmy Owl (G. hoskinsii\ which is smaller and 

 grayer, with the upper parts less distinctly spotted than the California bird. The 

 only other species occurring in the United States, and this simply by virtue of 

 crossing over the line in Texas and Arizona, is the Ferruginous Pygmy Owl 

 (G. phalanoides), which may be distinguished by having the top of the head 

 streaked, instead of spotted, with white. 



Of the species belonging to the second section of the genus in which the upper 

 surface is barred instead of spotted, we may mention the Large Pygmy Owl 

 (G. cuculoides) of the Himalayas, the hills of central India, and the Burmese 

 provinces. Of its habits Mr. Blanford says: "This is one of the least noc- 

 turnal of all Owls, and may often be seen in full sunlight, sometimes even at 

 midday, sitting on trees or stumps, or moving about and feeding in shady 

 gardens or jungle. It keeps to thin tree or bamboo jungle, or gardens, 

 and feeds partly on insects, but also on small birds and mammals. Its cry 

 is a peculiar cackle, like a laugh, called by Hume a 'chuckling, vibrating call.' 

 The eggs, four in number, are deposited in a hollow or hole in a tree without 

 any nest." 



Elf Owls. The final genus of typical Owls embraces the two species of 

 quaint little Elf Owls (Micropallas), the smallest members of the entire sub- 

 order, and quite to be compared in this respect with the little Falconets, the most 

 diminutive of the diurnal birds of prey. These little Owls, which are hardly 

 more than six inches in length, have a small, weak bill, which is hidden among 

 recurved and oppressed bristly feathers, while the facial disk is imperfect, the 

 wings relatively very long but rounded, and the tail of moderate length. The 

 tarsi are nearly naked, the feathers extending but a little way below the heel- 

 joint, the lower portion as well as the upper surfaces of the toe being covered 

 with short, bristly hairs. A very marked character is afforded by the claws, these 

 being remarkably small, weak, and little curved, "hardly more than insessorial, 

 instead of raptorial, in character." 



The first species to be discovered was the Elf Owl, or Whitney's Owl (M. 

 ivhitneyi), as it is sometimes called, which was found about 1861 at Mojave, in 

 southern California, at a point, however, which subsequent events have shown 

 was near the extreme north and western limit of its range, whence it extends 

 southwestward through southern Arizona, and is there the commonest Owl 

 of the region. It is nocturnal in its habits, being seldom abroad during the 

 daytime, but spending this time in concealment in abandoned Woodpeckers' 

 holes in trees and giant cactus, or in the densest thickets. They are very quiet, 

 gentle little Owls, rarely protesting when taken in the hand, and several are often 

 found in company. When one finds that it has been observed, it sits quite erect 

 and perfectly motionless, often, according to Mr. Stephens, holding up one wing 

 in front of the face as a sort of shield. The call note, which is frequently repeated 

 and in different keys, is described by Bendire as resembling the syllables "cha- 



