March, i8gS. Birds of the Pacific Slope of Los Angeles Counly. i?> 



Breeds commonly wherever proper ilesting sites are to be found. Eggs 

 usually laid in April, though individual pairs often nest earlier, or if 

 the first set is destroyed, much later; set 5, incubation slight, taken bj^ 

 me near PasBdena, March 18 ('93); set 5, incubation medium, taken 

 by E. Parker near Claremont, June 27 ('97). Sets are of three to six 

 eggs, generally' four or five. 



128 — 36^. Pandion halid'elus carolinensis (Gmel.). 

 American Osprey. 

 Of occasional occurrence along the coast, mostly in fall and spring. 

 None nest within the county at present, except on the Islands, where 

 they breed abundantly. M. L. \Vicks, Jr.. tells me that a pair formerly 

 had a nest on a rock in the surf near Santa Monica. 



129 — 36^. Strix pralincola Bonap. 



(American Barn Owl. 



This is probably our best known owl, making its home in barn 

 lofts, church towers and garrets. It is popularly known as Golden 

 Owl and Monkey-faced Owl. Breeds commonly in March and April, 

 in the oak regions, as well as in buildings and holes in banks. C. E. 

 Groesbeck found a nest containing half-grown young, on Feb. 11 ('97), 

 and on the same date took a set of six slightly incubated eggs; H. Le- 

 land took a set of five fresh eggs on June 5 (97)- Both were near 

 Pasadena. 

 130 — ^66. Asio wilsonianus (Less.). 



Aroerican Long-eared Owl. 



Common resident in the willow regions of the lowlands. Eggs 

 are most generally laid in April. Extremes: C. E. Groesbeck took a 

 set of four eggs almost ready to hatch, near El Monte, March 15 ('97)- 

 R. Arnold took a set of four fresh eggs in San Fernando Valley, 

 May I ('92). 

 131 — 367. Asio accipilrinus (Pall.). 



Short-eared Owl. 



Apparently a tolerably common winter visitant. Observed only 

 in wet meadows in the lowlands. On November 7 ('96), I flushed a 

 flock of five from an alfalfa field near El Monte, and secured two. 

 Feb. 8 ('93) is the latest authentic record in the spring. This owl has 

 recently been reported as nesting in this county, but I consider the 

 identity questionable. 

 1.32 — ■J<5p. Syrnium occidentale Xantus. 



Spotted Owl. 



Apparently a resident, though in small numbers, in the higher 

 mountains. Several specimens have been taken in the canons north of 

 Pasadena in winter, and I took an adult male in moulting plumage in 

 the same vicinity, Aug. 10 ('94). F. J. Illingworth secured full-fledged 

 young in a canon near Claremont, July 4 ('94), and has seen adults in 

 the same place on several occasions since. 



133 — 373c. Megascops asio bendirei (Brewst.). 



California Screech Owl. 

 Common resident in the oak regions from the lowlands to 5000 



