72 BIRDS OF PREY. 



SAW-WHET OWL. 



acadian owl. 



Nyctala acadica. 



Char. Above, dark grayish brown spotted with white ; below, white, 

 spotted with reddish brown ; tail short, with three narrow bands of white 

 spots. Young almost solid brown of reddish tint, and face with white 

 markings. Length 7j4 io 8^ inches. 



JVest. A hole in a tree (often in a hole that has been deserted by Wood- 

 peckers), lined with feathers. 



£gg-s. 3-6 (usually 4) ; white; 1.20 X i-OO. 



This very small species is believed to be an inhabitant of the 

 northern regions of both continents, from which in Europe it 

 seldom wanders, being even very rare in the North of Germany. 

 In the United States it is not uncommon as far to the south as 

 Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where it is resident, having ap- 

 parently a predilection for the sea-coast, living and nesting in 

 the pine-trees or in the clefts of rocks, and laying 4 or 5 

 white eggs. It is generally nocturnal ; and if accidentally 

 abroad by day, it flies quickly to some shelter from the light. 

 It is very solitary in its habits, living wholly in the evergreen 

 forests, and coming out only towards night or early in the 

 morning in search of mice, beetles, moths, and grasshoppers. 



The note of this species is very different from that of the 

 Sirix passerine, or Little Owl, to which it is nearly related. 

 This latter kind has a reiterated cry, when flying, X^ii poopoo 

 poopoo. Another note, which it utters sitting, appears so much 

 like the human voice calling out atme, heme, edme, that accord- 

 ing to Buffon, it deceived one of his servants, who lodged in 

 one of the old turrets of the castle of Montbard ; and waking 

 him up at three o'clock in the morning, with this singular cry, 

 he opened the window and called out, " Who 's there below ? 

 My name is not Edme, but Peter ! " 



The Saw-whet — called so from its note, which resembles the 

 filing of a saw — breeds from the Middle States northward to about 

 latitude 50°, but is not an abundant bird anywhere. 



