242 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. [Yol.Yl. 



dry climate, altliougli it never exposed itself to tlie sunshine. It did 

 not, therefore, present the ' darker ' color and more numerous better 

 defined transverse lines below, being scarcely more than light ash-color 

 in any part." The Doctor further remarks, " Being thus unlike Cassin's 

 S. McCallii, I have considered it only a pale variety of S. asio, although 

 its southern locality would lead us to expect to find it to be 8. McCallii, 

 if indeed that be a distinct species." Mr. Eidgway thinks this was 

 doubtless 8. trichopsis Wagl. 



Nyctale acadica Gmelin. — The Acadian Owl; Saw- whet Owl. 



But a single individual of this species was obtained by Mr. Eidgway, 

 in Thousand Spring Yalley. It is more common in the northern por- 

 tions of the United States, and as it is nocturnal, but little has been 

 learned of its habits. 



" I have seen in the museum of the German Academy of Natural 

 Sciences, of San Francisco, a specimen of this owl, brought from 

 Nevada, close to the boundary ot California, about latitude 39°, altitude 

 7,000 feet."— (Cooper.) 



8peotyto cunicularia liypogcea (Bonap.) Eidgw. — Burrowing Owl. 



This Owl was found only on the southern slope of the hills near Ante- 

 lope Creek, about 60 miles north of Battle Mountain, where two indi- 

 viduals were seen flying from a deserted prairie-dog burrow, one of 

 which was subsequently shot and identified. 



Micrathene whitneyi (Cooper) Coues. — Whitney's Pigmy Owl. 



This species was discovered by Dr. Cooper at Fort Mojave in 1860, 

 and is probably the smallest Owl known. From the doctor's descrip- 

 tion we learn that it is arboreal, and partly diurnal, and feeds upon in- 

 sects. It has not been reported from the same locality by any later 

 observers, though several specimens are reported by Captain Bendire 

 and Mr. Henshaw as having been secured in Arizona. 



FALCONID^. 



Sierofalco mexieanus polyagrus (Cass.) Eidgw. — Prairie Falcon. 



Mentioned by Mr. Eidgway as a rather common species throughout 

 the upper interior portions of the State ; saw a mounted specimen at 

 Carlin, which was said to have been shot near that place. 



Falco peregrinus nwvius (Gmel.) Eidgw. — American Peregrine Falcon j 



Duck Hawk. 



Was found by Mr. Eidgway at Pyramid Lake and along the Lower 

 Truckee, where he secured a specimen. 



^salon colitmharius (Linn.) Kaup. — Pigeon Hawk. 



Not common in the northern portion of the State. Dr. Cooper 

 secured a specimen at Fort Mojave in winter, which differed from the 



