STUl(ilU.l<; — TIIH OWLS. 



8;} 



(ilfillritlium rfthtfiniicitm. 



The GlaafiiUnm call/ornlrvin requires coinparison only witli tlio G. 

 passcrmuiii of Euroiio, to wiiich it is quite closely related, tliuugh easily dis- 

 tinguishable by the characters jroiuted 

 out in the diagnoses ; it is not at all 

 nice (jnomii, nor indeed any other 

 American sjiecies, with which it has 

 been confounded by nearly all orni- 

 tlioloi;ists, even by Tabanis, in his 

 (excellent \YA\mv above cited. 



I have seen only one Mexican speci- 

 men of this species, which is one in 

 Mr. Lawrence's collection ; the locality 

 is not given, but it is prol)ably from 

 the higher regions of the interior. It 

 differs in no respect, except in size, 

 from North American examples ; it 

 measures, wing, 3.4(t; tail, 2.0U. 



Hahits. This species, one of the 

 smallest of our North American Owls, was first obtained on the Columbia 

 liiver l>y Dr. Townsend, near Fort Vancouver; and subsequently. Dr. Merideth 

 Gairdner procured several others from the same locality, which were sent to 

 the Edinburgli ]Museuni. Dr. Townsend's specimen was said to have been 

 taken on the wing at midday. 



Dr. Cooper met with a single siiecinien in Washington Territory early in 

 November, 18")4. He observed it among a flock of Sparrows, that ditl not 

 seem at all disturbed by its presence.'. At first he mistook it for one of these 

 birds. Its stomach was found to contain only insects. 



Dr. Suckley obtained two specimens at Tuget Sound, where he found it 

 moderately abundant. It seemed to be diurnal in its habits, gliding al)out 

 in shady situations in pursuit of its prey. lie saw one about midday in a 

 shady alder-swamji near Nisipially. It ilitted noi.seli'Ssly i)ast him several 

 times, alighting near l>y, on a low branch, as if to examine the intruder. 



Near a small lake in the neighborhood of Fort Steilacoom, Dr. Suckley 

 frequently heard the voice of a diminutive Owl, which he su])posed to come 

 from one of these birds, as this is the only small species of the family ho 

 ever saw in that neighborhood. The notes were subdued and clear, like the 

 soft, low notes of a ihite. 



Dr. Newberry procured specimens of the Pigmy Owl on the Cascade 

 Mountains, in Oregon, where, however, it was not common. It occurs also 

 in Ciilifornia, as he saw several individuals in San Francisco that had been 

 obtained in that State, but he did not meet with any in the Sacramento 

 Valley. It was ap]jarently confined to wooded districts, which is prol)ably 

 the reason why it is not more frequent in the open country of California. 

 He adds that it Hies about with great freedom and activity by day, pursuing 



