360 LIFE HISTORIES OP NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



123. Megascops asio mccallii (Cassin). 



TEXAN SCREECH OWL. 



Scops mccallii (Jassin, Illustrated Birds of California, Texas, etc., July, 1854, 184. 

 Megascops asio maccalli Stejneger, Auk, 11, April, 1885, 184. 



(B 50, C 3186, R 402b, C 468, U 3736.) 



Geographical range : Southern Texas and eastern Mexico ; south to Guatemala. 



The Texan Screech Owl, a slightly smaller race than Megascops asio, and, 

 like this, found in both the red and gray phases, is, according to Mr. R. 

 Ridgway, distinguishable from the latter in having the light mottlings on 

 upper parts much coarser and more conspicuous. It is a resident of the semi- 

 tropical portions of southern Texas, especially of the valley of the Lower Rio 

 Grande, and eastern Mexico, and breeds wherever found. 



But little is as yet known about the general habits and food of this 

 form, but they are doubtless very similar to those of the rest of this genus. 

 Like them it breeds in cavities in trees and lays from two to five eggs. Mr. 

 George B. Sennett found a nest of this race on April 23, 1877, situated in 

 a dead stub, about 9 inches in diameter, and so weak and rotten that it 

 could easily have been pushed over; it contained three fresh eggs; location 

 about 4 miles from Hidalgo, up the river and within about one-fourth of a 

 mile of its banks. 1 Another set of five eggs found about April 1, 1878, were 

 sent to him by Mr. Bourbois, who took them from a nest on his ranch at 

 Lomita. 



Dr. James C. Merrill, assistant surgeon U. S. Army, says with reference 

 to this Owl: "Common resident. Near Hidalgo on May 6, I captured a female 

 of this race on her nest in an old hollow stump about 5 feet from the 

 ground. There were two eggs nearly hatched, placed on a few chips at the 

 bottom of the hole." 2 



There seems to be no especial difference in the time of nidification, and 

 the eggs of the Texan Screech Owl are similar in every respect to those of 

 the common form, excepting that they are a trifle smaller. 



The average measurement of twelve specimens of this race in the U. S. 

 National Museum collection is 33.5 by 29 millimetres, the largest egg meas- 

 uring 35.5 by 30 the smallest. 32. 5 by 28 millimetres. No specimen has been 

 figured. 



'Bulletin U. S. Geological Survey, 1878, p. 40. 



Proceedings of the U. S. National Museum, Vol. I, 1878, p. 151. 



