200 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



ELF OWL. 



Micropallas whitneyi. 



This little Owl, tlie smallest known species in N"orfcli America, was 

 first discovered by Dr. J. Gr. Cooper, at Fort Mohave, Ariz., on April 26, 

 1861, and described by him in the Proceedings of the California Academy 

 of Natural Sciences, 1861, p. 118. At present it is known to inhabit 

 the southwestern United States, ranging from central Arizona (Pres- 

 cott), southeastern California, and Lower California, southward to south- 

 ern Mexico. In parts of Arizona it is very common, for Mr. W. B. D. 

 Scott says : '' On one occasion while collecting with Mr. F. Stephens, 

 near Puller's ranch [near Tucson], about the last of May, 1883, we se- 

 cured, with no particular exertion, over twenty of these birds and a 

 dozen or more nests of eggs in about six hours." (Auk, vol. m, 1886, 

 p. 424.) 



It almost invariably breeds in deserted woodpeckers' holes, in the 

 giant cactuses, though a few nests have been found in hollow mesquit or 

 other trees. The eggs are from two to five in number, three being the 

 most common, and the extremes rare. Fresh sets are found from the first 

 week in May to the third week in June, which latter date is late for Owls 

 generally to breed. Exceptduring the breeding season when thefemales 

 are fouiid in the nest holes, the species lives in the thick brush and 

 thickets through the day. Evidence goes to show that during the 

 breeding season the males are more or less gregarious, keeping in wil- 

 low copses or other thickets. 



The species is nocturnal in its habits, not emerging from its retreat 

 until twilight is well advanced, when it may be seen flying about in 

 the fading light. It is said to have several notes which are heard more 

 often in the early evening and again about daybreak. 



The following from Mr. F. Stephens, which was published by Mr. 

 Brewster, is interesting in adding to our knowledge of the habits of 

 this comparatively little known bird: "I was walking past an elder 

 bush in a thicket when a small bird started out. Thinking it had flown 

 from its nest I stopped and began examining the bush, when I dis- 

 covered a Whitney's Owl sitting on a branch with its side toward me 

 and one wing held up, shield-fashion, before its face. I could just see 

 its eyes over the wing, and had it kept them shut I might have over- 

 looked it, as they first attracted my attention. It had drawn itself into 

 the smallest possible compass so that its head formed the widest part 

 of its outline. I moved around a little to get a better chance to shoot, 

 as the brush was very thick, but whichever way I went the wing was 

 always interposed, and when I retreated far enough for a fair shot I 

 could not tell the bird from the surrounding bunches of leaves. At 

 length, losing patience, I fired at random and it fell. Upon going to 

 pick it up I was surprised to find another, which I had not seen before, 



