The Pigmy Owl. 411 



As near as possible to the mergence of twilight into night 

 — what the Scotch call the gloaming, and in our country is 

 known as cock-light — when the woodcock skims through the 

 grove, and the blackbird chink-chinks his vesper hymn — 

 exactly at this time the owls invariably came out, and, as if 

 for the purpose of stretching their limbs rather than feeding, 

 took erratic nights round the tree, and up and down the plain, 

 chasing one another and performing all kinds of inexplicable 

 manoeuvres. Occasionally they settled on the ground, but 

 never remained long. I do not think they ever capture an 

 insect whilst on the wing, and a very small quantity of food 

 appears to satisfy their wants. As it became dark, having 

 supplied their evening necessities, again they returned to their 

 dormitory, and, as I imagine, slept away the night. 



In their habits they appear to have nothing in common 

 with the typical owls (Strigince) , and approximate, though 

 slightly, to the day owls (Nycteinince). Cassin, in his Birds 

 of California, calls this owl Glaucidiimi infuscatum, regarding 

 it as the Strix infuscata of Temminck. Dr. Sclater, however, 

 proposes to call it Glaucidium Galifornicum (Proceedings 

 Zoological Society, 1857, page 4). There can be no doubt that 

 the two names, Strix infuscata and Strix passerinoides , were 

 used by Temminck to designate the same species, which is 

 strictly from South America, and quite distinct from our little 

 friend, though closely allied. The name Gl. glioma, used by 

 Wagler, I adopt as having precedence. 



Its specific characters need not be given here, being 

 readily, obtainable by referring to any of the list of works 

 quoted in the synonymes. I may mention, however, that the 

 grand and marked specific differences, as distinguishing this 

 from the South American species, are that in GL gnoma the 

 toes are naked, the colour generally lighter, and the size some- 

 what less. Total length of male, 7 inches; wings 3^, tail 3. 

 The sexes are very nearly alike, but the female rather the 

 larger, and more thickly spotted with white. 



Early in May, two small white eggs were laid — round, and 

 very rough on the surface — a large knot-hole in the branch 

 of the oak being selected as the nesting-place ; not a particle 

 of anything was used as lining, the eggs being deposited on 

 the bare wood. The length of time occupied in incubation I 

 regret inability to state, having to shift my camp some distance 

 away soon after the female commenced sitting. When next I 

 visited the tree, both young and old were gone, much to my 

 disgust and annoyance. By the scattered feathers that lay 

 ominously beneath the tree, I imagine a prowling martin, or 

 fisher, had played havoc with my pet family, and devoured, 

 perhaps, both parents and children. 



