408 ZOOLOGY— BIRDS. 



Glauddium infuscatwm, Newb., P. R. R. Hep., vi, 1S57, 77. 



Glaticidium gnoma, Bn., Birds N. A., 1858, 02 (not of Wagleu?). — Eeeum., P. R. R. Rep., 

 x, pt. ii, 189, 34.— COOP. & SUCKX., P. R. R. Rep., xii, pt. ii, 1S00, 158.— 

 Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila,, 1800, 50 (Fort Whipple, Ariz.). 



This little owl is apparently quite common in Arizona and New Mexico. 

 It does not appear to be at all a nocturnal species, but was observed to be 

 most active in the early morning and late afternoon, and on one occasion 

 was seen flying' at broad noonday. Their notes are quite similar to those 

 of the Mottled Owl (Scoj)s maccalll), by imitating which I succeeded in 

 enticing one, step by step, till he finally sat on the top of a small oak within 

 thirty feet, and scanned my person with evident astonishment, and, I could 

 not help fancing, with an air of abused confidence. 



Among the pine woods of the White Mountains, Arizona, these owls 

 appeared to be particularly numerous toward the latter part of October, and 

 I had good reasons for believing that at this season they are quite gregarious. 

 During a week's reconnaissance here, scarcely a camp was made but that at 

 some period of the day the notes of this species could be heard, usually 

 coming from some perch, hidden away in the tops of the lofty pines. These 

 notes were most frequent at about nine in the morning, at which time they 

 appeared to gather at some rendezvous, and then doze away the time till 

 about four in the afternoon, when they again became noisy, as they wakened 

 up, and prepared to sally out for a fresh supply of provisions. When camped 

 one morning in a little valley hemmed in on all sides by steep banks, clothed 

 with pines, I estimated there must have been at least twenty of these 

 diminutive owls within a radius of a quarter of a mile ; their calls to 

 each other were incessant, and from all directions at once. I found no 

 difficulty in imitating them, and in a few moments had one of the little 

 fellows sitting in a high pine above my head, answering note for note, 

 though how he got there I was puzzled to tell, as I certainly did not see him 

 fly in. For full five minutes I strained my eyes, endeavoring to make 

 out his form, but all in vain, until, perhaps having satisfied himself of the 

 fraud, he flew out, when I obtained a shot at him. 



A young bird collected by Dr. C. CI. Newberry is appreciably dif- 

 ferent from the adult. The entire plumage has more of a slaty tinge, while 

 the back and under parts are strongly suffused with rufous. The head above 



