'SS3-J . General Notes. 



183 



effort as if to rid himself oP the troublesome "whooo," and when 

 finished would stand motionless, perhaps marvelling at the sweetness 

 of his own voice, or more likely awaiting a response. Thinking that 

 this exti-aordinary exhibition might be for the benefit of his mate, I 

 started up, after listening to several more "encores," and proceeded to 

 investigate the hill-side. I found no bird but the one there, and my 

 approach sent him scurrying across the valley. 



These peculiar notes of the Road-runner sound, as near as I can word 

 it, much like the prolonged syllable w/5o<?<7 — aspirating strongly the 

 7v/i and giving the-vowel as a soft gutteral. This note, — not so pro- 

 longed as the "coo" of the Dove,— is repeated some five or six times in 

 distinctly separate utterances, and is given with an effort which I can only 

 liken to that exerted by our 'dung-hill champion when he calls to earlv 

 matins. Now that I know these facts, I can remember numerous occa- 

 sions when I heard the same sound, and wondered at not being able to 

 ^ee a Dove, which I naturally assumed to be the author of it. While I 

 feel confident that, even a careful ear might not detect the difference in 

 the two sounds — not knowing the facts — yet once known there is little 

 danger of mistaking them if heard near by. The softer Dove's "coo" is 

 also not generally repeated as many times. 



It may be that this observation brings nothing new to those well posted, 

 but as it is new to me, and as I learn from residents here that it is a new 

 fact to them, I will make it known, trusting that it may be news to many 

 others. This I would not do whilst so much in the dark as to previous 

 history, but that I am unable to "search the records" in this remote 

 locality, and can onl\' go by my own recollections. 



One thing more, lest I mislead, and that is to say that besides this 

 peculiar succession of notes, the Road-runner has a harsh, disagreeable 

 "squawk," which, while not uttered often, is bj' no means a rare accom- 

 plishment or one not apt to be noticed by those who are familiar with the 

 bird in it^ haunts. — G Holterhoff, Jr.. Natiotial City, Cal. 



A PARTIAL Albino Short-eared Owl {Aslo accipitriuus). — I have 

 a female of this species taken here April 29, 1883, i" which the entire 

 plumage is suffused with white, the ruff, upper part of neck, the median 

 and lesser covei-ts, ends of primaries, secondaries, and tail being strongly 

 so. — Jno. H. Sage, Portland, Conn. s 



Great Gray Owl in Rhode Island.— A very fine specimen of this 

 species {Syrnium ci7iereum) was killed at Wickford, R. I., March 25, 1883. 

 Mr. Gray, in our employ, heard of it and succeeded in purchasing it. 

 We had a Horned Owl to mount the same day, and also a Barred Owl. 

 The body of the Great Gray Owl was less than half the size of the 

 Horned Owl's, and but little larger than that of the Barred Owl, though 

 the bird itself exceeds the Great Horned in size. The eye is very small, 

 and the breast feathers extremely long. Taken all in all, it is the most 

 bird for the least substance we ever examined. — Fred. T. Jencks, Provi- 

 dence, R. I. 



