162 



THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



This little Owl is mild and gentle in disposition while in captivity 

 and makes an interesting pet. It will soon allow itself to be handled , 

 and is particularly fond of having its head gently scratched. 



Although seldom known to hunt during the daytiine, there are ex- 

 ceptions, as in the case occurring near Washington, D. C, where Mr. J. 

 D. Figgins killed a specimen which was feeding on a j unco and sur- 

 rounded by a mob of small birds. (Auk, vol. vi, 1889, p. 189.) 



The note of this species is peculiar and has a rasping character, resem- 

 bling the sound made when a large-toothed saw is being filed ; hence 

 the name. It is more often heard during March and early April, 

 though occasionally it is heard at other times of the year. 



The flight resembles that of the woodcock very closely, so much so 

 in fact, that the writer once killed a specimen as it was flying over the 

 alders, and not until the dog pointed the dead bird was he aware of 

 his mistake. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Smallest Owl of the eastern United States ; no ear tufts; wing less 

 than 6 inches (152 mm ) ; tail less than 3.50 inches (88 mm ) ; above, brown, 

 more or less spotted with white; beneath white, striped with reddish 

 brown. 



Length: 7.25 to 8.50 inches (183 to 215 mm ); wing, 5.25 to 5.90 inches 

 (133 to 149 mm )5 tail, 2.80 to 3.25 inches (70 to 82 mm ). 



Table slioiving the results of examinations of 22 stomachs of the Saw-ivhet Owl 



{Nyctala acadica). 



Locality. 



Date. 



Poultry 



or game 



birds. 



Other birds. 



Mammals. 



Miscellaneous. 



Taunton, Mass 



East Hartford, Conn . . 



Hillsboro, N. B 



Flatbush,N. Y 



Locust Grove, N. Y.. . 



Sing Sing, ST. Y 



District of Columbia . . 

 Do 



Dec. 11,1885 

 Jan. 7,1887 



Oct. 21,1886 

 Nov. 3,1887 

 Jan. 24, 1884 

 Jan. 13.1885 

 Mar. 12, 1889 

 Nov. 1,1889 

 do 







Mouse hair 



White-footed 

 mouse. 



Mouse hair 



House mouse . . . 

 Meadow mouse . 

 do 

















































Empty. 

 Do. 



Do 









Story County, Iowa. . . 



Dec. — , 1882 

 Dec. —,1882 

 Jan. 8,1883 

 Oct, —,1883 

 Jan. 31,1887 



June 12, 1887 

 do 















....do 





Do 







....do 





Do 







....do 





Kensselaer County, N. 

 Y. 



San Francisco, Moun- 

 tain, Arizona. 



Do 















Meadow mice, 

 white-footed 

 mice. 



do 











Do 



...do 







....do 





Do 



do -- 







....do 





New Haven, Conn 



Brookland, D. C 



Horse Hill, N. J 



Wilmington, Mass 



Nov. 14, 1890 

 Dec. 12,1890 

 Oct. 29,1890 



Feb. 19, 1892 









Moth. 







Meadow mouse . 

 Small shrew, 



white-footed 



mouse. 















Empty. 









Summaby.— Of 22 stomachs examined, 17 contained mice; 1, a bird; 1, an insect; and 3 were empty. 



