42 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[No. 7. 



At Furnace Creek a specimen was nailed upon the side of the house 

 at the ranch, where it was killed a year or so before our arrival. 



Strix pratincola. Barn Owl. 



The only barn owl found east of the Sierra Nevada was a dead one 

 seen by Mr. Stephens at Alvord, the last of June. Dr. Merriam and 

 Mr. Palmer found the species abundant at Old Fort Tejon the latter 

 part of June, where a family of young, in one of the large oaks near 

 camp, proved a great nuisance on account of the hissing and shrieking 

 which was kept up all night. The old birds were seen flying in and 

 out among the large oaks on several occasions, as if in pursuit of bats. 

 It is altogether likely that they were thus occupied, as the remains of 

 this mammal have been found repeatedly among their stomach contents, 

 both in Europe and this country. A pouched gopher and a chipmunk, 

 left on the table, disappeared one night, probably through the agency 

 of these birds. 



On the South Fork of the Kern Eiver Mr. Bailey secured two speci- 

 mens July 4, and the species was common at Bakersfleld and Visalia, 

 in the San Joaquin Valley, in the latter part of July. Dr. Merriam 

 found it common in the old mission of San Luis Bey, in San Diego 

 County, and Mr. Stephens saw one in Beche Canon, near San Bernar- 

 dino. Mr. Nelson found it very common about San Emigdio, Morro 

 Bay, and San Luis Obispo in October and November. 



Record of specimens collected of Strix pratincola. 



Col- 

 lector's 

 No. 



Sex. 



Locality. 



Date. 



Collector. 



Remarks. 





? 



9 





Julv 4. 1891 . 

 ...do .' 



V. Bailev 



South Fork. 





..do 



do 



Do. 



402 





July 23. 1831. 













Asio wilsonianus. Long-eared Owl. 



The long-eared owl was seen at a few places only. Mr. Nelson found 

 a flock of eight living in a willow patch at Pahrump ranch, Nevada, 

 February 12-28. All were flushed in an area less than 50 yards in 

 diameter, and each bird had evidently occupied the same place for a 

 considerable time, as the little groups of several dozen pellets plainly 

 showed. Mr. Bailey secured a specimen at Bakersfleld, in the San 

 Joaquin Valley, July 18, and another near timber line north of Mineral 

 King in the Sierra Nevada, September 9. 

 Asio accipitrinus. Short-eared Owl. 



Several short-eared owls were seen at Ash Meadows, Nevada, during 

 the early part of March, and Mr. Stephens shot a specimen in Temecula 

 Canon, San Diego County, California, January 30. 

 Syrnium occidentale. Spotted Owl. 



This species was not met with by any member of our expedition, 

 though the type came from Old Fort Tejon, California, where it was 

 obtained March 6, 1858, by John Xantus. 



