OWLS. 43 



Saw-whet Owl. Cryptoglaux axxtdica. 



The saw-whet, the smallest owl found in the eastern United States, 

 occurs commonly in the Northern States, but in the lower Missis- 

 sippi Valley is a rare or accidental winter visitant. There is but one 

 record from Louisiana and one from Arkansas, based on an entry in 

 the catalogue of the United States National Museum of a specimen 

 (No. 3891) collected at Fort Smith by the Whipple Expedition of 

 1853-54. The specimen itself can not now be found, and con- 

 siderable doubt attaches to the correctness of the record, especially 

 iu view of the fact that Lieut. Whipple's party was at Fort Smith 

 only a few days in the early part of July — a time of year when this 

 owl would not be expected to occur so far south. 



Screech Owl. Otus asio asio. 



This famihar httle owl is generally distributed in the State, but is 

 more often heard than seen. It remains throughout the year, nesting 

 in hoUow trees or sometimes in bird boxes or cavities around farm 

 buildings. No specimens of the northern form {asio) are known to 

 have been taken in Arkansas, but it probably will be found in the 

 higher parts of the State. Kecords of its occurrence at Fayetteville, 

 Clinton, and Mammoth Spring are considered referable to this sub- 

 species. In its food habits the screech owl is almost wholly bene- 

 ficial, feeding largely on mice and insects and less frequently on small 

 birds, Hzards, frogs, and crawfish. With the increase of Enghsh 

 sparrows this owl has acquired a fondness for these pests, and this 

 fact, coupled with its habit of hunting mice around barnyards and 

 grain stacks, should lead every farmer to protect it as far as possible. 



Florida Screech Owl. Otus asio jUmdamis. 



This southern form of the screech owl probably inhabits the south- 

 em and eastern parts of Arkansas. Several specimens, including 

 both red and gray individuals, have been taken at Dehght by Savage, 

 and Hanna took one at Van Buren. Screech owls, doubtless of this 

 subspecies, are reported fairly common at Wilmot, Stuttgart (Hol- 

 lister), Helena, and Osceola. 



Great Honied Owl. Buho virginianus. 



This owl, one of the largest and fiercest of its tribe, is generally 

 distributed in the State, but in most sections is not very common. 

 It was reported as a resident and breeder at Newport (1884) and 

 Clinton (1890), and Preble killed one at FayetteAdlle, September 

 28, 1892. Savage reports it fairly common at Dehght, and McAtee 

 noted it at Turrell and Menasha. Lake. I did not observe any during 

 my 1910 trip. This species is notoriously destructive to poultry and 

 game birds, but it also feeds extensively on mice, rats, rabbits, and 

 other small mammals. It captures also a few small birds and some 



