LITTLE COLUMBIAN OWL. 271 



Length to end of tail 10| inclies, to end of wings 10 ; bill along the 

 ridge i§ ; wing from flexure 6i ; tail 3^ ; tarsus li ; hind toe ^^, its 

 claw 1^2 ; middle toe \^, its claw ?|. 



On comparing this bird with European specimens, as well as with 

 the best descriptions of Strix passerina, I feel convinced that it belongs 

 to that species, as it entirely agrees with it in size, proportions, and 

 colouring. 



LITTLE COLUMBIAN OWL. 



Strix PAssERiNOiDES, Temm. 



PLATE CCCCXXXII. Male. 



Of this pretty little Owl I can only say that the single specimen 

 from which I made the two figures in the plate before you, was sent to 

 me by Dr Townsenb, along with the following notice respecting it : — 

 " I shot this bird on the Columbia River, near Fort Vancouver, in the 

 month of November. I first saw it on wing about mid-day, and its cu- 

 rious jerking or undulating flight struck me as extremely peculiar, and 

 induced me to follow and secure it. It soon alighted upon a high branch 

 of a pine tree, and I shot it with my rifle, the only gun I had with me, 

 as I was at the time engaged in shooting cranes along the banks of the 

 river. The specimen is somewhat mutilated, in consequence of having 

 lost one wing by the ball. The stomach contained nearly the whole 

 body of a Ruby-crowned Wren, with a few small remnants of beetles 

 and worms. It was a male ; its irides bright yellow ; and it measured 

 7 inches in length. The tail is exactly 3 inches long, and extends 2j 

 inches beyond the closed wings."" 



I have seen several specimens of this Owl in the Edinburgh Mu- 

 seum, which had also been sent from Fort Vancouver by Dr Merideth 

 Gairdmer. 



Cheveche Chevechoide, Strix passerinoides, Temm. PI. Col. 344 



Adult Male. Plate CCCCXXXII, Figs. 4, 5. 

 Bill short, strong, broader than high at the base, compressed to- 

 ward the end ; the cere short ; the nostrils rather small, oblong, ob. 



