The Pygmy Owls 



curious impersonality about the gaze of this little owl. Even when he 

 does look in your direction (and he does not flatter you by constant atten- 

 tion by any means), he does not appear to focus on you at all. Perhaps 

 this is a trick of the eye, or else arises from its unlikeness to that of other 

 owls. For although the atmosphere on this occasion was full of light, the 

 bird's pupils were dilated to the utmost, and the irides were mere yellow 

 rims. 



When first put to 

 flight, by approach from 

 below, Owlikins did not 

 flutter off like a soft 

 shadow, as might have 

 been expected, but 

 pitched downward nearly 

 to the ground and buzzed 

 off like a young meteor, 

 fetching up suddenly on 

 another osier branch some 

 fifty feet away. Thither 

 I followed and clambered 

 up to a point within six 

 feet of him on the level. 

 Even then the bird did not 

 appear greatly disturbed, 

 and he deliberately looked 

 away from me as often as 

 at me — affording an ex- 

 ample of self-sufficiency 

 which was really startling. 

 In "bout facing" not a 

 muscle of the body moved 

 but only the grim little 

 death's head went round 

 and round. The Little 



Corporal was not greatly disturbed, either, by the noise; but when I 

 reproduced the Screech Owl cry, he gave me careful attention and ap- 

 peared so interested that when he flew again it was only for a space of 

 ten feet. 



Each time, a little before he shifted, the bird evacuated, with an 

 absurd little stretch and recoil, apparently so as to be ready for eventuali- 

 ties. By the way, what a fierce digestion those little cannibals must have, 

 for their excrement is always glistening white! I do not know how else 



CALIFORNIA PYGMY OWL 



II3I 



