The Arizona Elf Owl 



can believe that this 

 little midget, who may 

 be entirely hidden in the 

 hollow of your hand, is 

 really an owl? Owl! 

 your grandmother! 

 Why, you want to nuzzle 

 it and call it "pretty 

 baby," and say its dad- 

 dy ought to be proud of 

 it. But hold! Let us 

 see if there is anything 

 else in that hole. One- 

 two-three-/owr round 

 white eggs, as big as a 

 Flicker's, lying on the 

 hard bottom of the 

 cavity, without a shred 

 of lining. This drowsy 

 infant, this puny, pa- 

 thetic pickaninny terror 

 is a mother! Doubtless 

 her little wits are work- 

 ing mightily under that 

 mask of insouciance. 

 Let us see. Relax the 

 fingers. Psst goes the 

 bird upon the instant 

 and takes refuge in 

 the nearest bush. There 

 she glowers for a mo- 

 ment, and then takes 

 wing for another sahuaro 

 and dives confidently into another hole. 

 Mrs. Micropallas whitneyi today. 



Truth to tell, Elf Owls are very difficult of observation. The lore 

 which has grown up about them is scanty and not always consistent. 

 They are strictly nocturnal in habit, are none too noisy, and live a life 

 so secluded that we can do little better than catch them asleep, or note 

 them under artificial conditions. 



The classification of nocturnal noises proceeds by elimination, 

 guesswork, or murder. Those who have tried the last-named method 



ELF OWL 



It is the last we shall see of 



"35 



