BIRDS OF PORTO RICO. 67 



and the last one I noted on Culebra was on April 21. The bird feeds on small 

 fish, crawfish, etc., and occasionally one was noted about dry open spaces bor- 

 dered with mangroves, where it was probably seeking small crabs. It occurs 

 singly and is rather wild. 



Food. — Of three stomachs examined one was entirely empty. The other two 

 were taken at Mameyes in February, and in one were found remains of a 

 crawfish, while the other bird had eaten a short chunky fish 3| inches long, 

 seemingly too large for so small a bird to swallow. Under present conditions 

 the kingfisher can not be considered as directly injurious and should be 

 protected. 



PORTO RICAN SHORT-EARED OWL.. Asio portoricensis Ridgway. 

 Mucaro Real, Mucaro de Sabana, Mucaro de Melon, Coruja, Llorona. 



The Porto Rican short-eared owl is found only on the island for which it 

 is named, and at present is almost extinct. Natives reported it as occurring at 

 rare intervals in the grass fields of the lowlands at Rio Piedras, and it was 

 also heard of among the lower foothills above Mameyes, near Salinas, Utuado, 

 and Lares, where it was found in almost impassable growths of creepers and tree 

 ferns. Near Utuado it was said to live and nest in small caves on the steepest 

 hillsides, coming out only at night. One was said to have been captured there 

 in the early summer (1912). Near Lares the natives believe that at night 

 these owls swoop down upon an unsuspecting pedestrian, seize his hat, and 

 carry it off into the " malessa " for a nest. This bird is no longer present in 

 sufficient numbers to be of economic importance, and being a terrestrial species, 

 its decrease must be laid to the mongoose. This species certainly has not been 

 common within recent times, as Gundlach (1878, p. 165) did not see it in the 

 seventies when he was on the island. He reports it from Toa Baja, Furnias, 

 and Lares. 



BARE-LEGGED OWL. Gymnasio nudipcs nudipes (Daudin). (Plates V and VI.) 

 Mucaro. 



The little bare-legged owl is fairly common over the island of Porto Rico, but 

 from its nocturnal habits may be easily overlooked. It was found most often 

 in the coffee plantations in the hills, but was seen on the coast near Mameyes, 

 and was reported from other localities. On the south coast it does not appear 

 to be common. 



During the day the birds roost in thick clumps of leaves, and are rather 

 stupid, so that the natives frequently catch them by slipping a noose about the 

 neck. The flight is swift and noiseless. Early in the evening their call is 

 frequently heard, low and tremulous like that of a screech owl. It is given 

 most often from November to May. When the bird is frightened or excited, its 

 note is a loud boo boo like that of a burrowing owl. The small birds of the 

 forest often discover this owl hiding in the leaves, and make a great fuss, but 

 the owl remains motionless until they become tired and leave it. Near Maricao 

 one flew out from a hole in a tree attracted by the calling of a wing-tipped 

 vireo, and sat on a limb peering about until it was collected. From this hollow 

 a young bird a week old covered with grayish white down was taken. The 

 nest was a damp cavity, 6 or 8 inches deep, with two or three epiphytes grow- 

 ing before the entrance. May and June would seem to be the breeding months, 

 as other young birds almost fully fledged were taken at Lares during June. 



At Lares three were purchased alive, one of which was kept in captivity for 

 four days, the others for a shorter period. The first was a peaceable little 

 fellow, and allowed himself to be handled, stroked, or carried without attempt- 

 ing to bite or scratch, and stared about with big eyes, as though in constant 



