142 



OWLS— SPARROW— SNOW -BIRD— GROUSF 



American Barn Owl. Barn Owl. (Strix flammea, var. Americana?) 



Fig. 2. 



The type of this division of the family of Owls is met with in 

 most all the temperate parts of the globe. Our variety is found in 

 the United States as far north as Long Island, and southerly from 

 the Atlantic to the Pacific, but is rarely ever seen in the interior. 



According to Cooper, it is abundant throughout the southern 

 part of California, especially near the coast, frequenting chiefly 

 old buildings, barns, etc., but often found hid in dark thickets and 

 hollow trees. It closely resembles the European Barn Owl, and 

 others of almost every part of the world, and its habits seem to 

 resemble closely those of its Old World relative. In the Atlantic 

 States, it is said rather to avoid human habitations; but this is 

 probably on account of the thoughtless persecution too much prac- 

 ticed among our countrymen against all Owls, under the impression 

 that they destroy fowls. Careful observations of the habits of the 

 European species have shown that they very rarely ever do so, and 

 that, on the contrary, they destroy an incredible number of rats 

 and mice — in fact, more than they and their young can eat, a pair 

 of old ones being watched, and seen to arrive at the nest every 

 few minutes with a rat or mouse, during the early night. When 

 flying about at dusk, they utter a variety of loud, harsh, and 

 rather strange cries, which are sometimes heard throughout the 

 night. Their nest is merely the natural floor of the cavity in 

 which they live, and their eggs are said by Nuttall to be three to 

 five, of a whitish color. 



Pygmy Owl. {Glaucidium passerinum war. Calif or nicum^) 

 Fig. 3- 



This straightforward and unsuspicious little Owl is found in the 

 Western Province of North America. It is a common species, but 

 is difficult of observation on account of their retiring and unobtru- 

 sive habits. Its food consists of small birds and insects. The nest 

 is usually built in knot-holes. Dr. Newberry writes of this species : 

 " It flies about with great freedom and activity by day, pursuing 

 small birds, upon which it subsists, apparently as little incommoded 

 by the light as they are." Dr. Luckley says : " I have obtained 

 two specimens of this Owl at Puget Sound, where it seems to be 

 moderately abundant. It appears to be diurnal in its habits, glid- 

 ing about in shady situations in pursuit of its prey. I saw a bird 

 of this kind, about midday, in a shady alder swamp near Nisqually. 

 It flitted noiselessly past me several times, alighting near by, on a 

 small branch, as if to examine the intruder. It seemed quite tame, 

 and entirely unsophisticated." 



Ferrugineous Owl. Red-tailed Owl. {Glaucidium ferrugineum.) 



Fig. 4 . 



In size, shape, and habits, this species is similar to the Pygmy 

 Owl. It is met with throughout the whole of eastern South Amer- 

 ica, and middle America, and north into the southern borders of 

 the United States. In Mexico it is a very common bird. 



Burrowing Owl. (Speotyto cunicularia, var. hypogcea. 



Fig. 5- 



This species is to be met with in the open places in the country 

 oetween the Pacific coast and the Mississippi river. It is a com- 

 mon and familiar species, and may be seen at all times of the day, in 

 company with the large ground-squirrel, living with them, as com- 



panions, in their deserted burrows. Their call note sounds some- 

 what similar to the word "cuc-koo," which is continued through 

 the month of March, and occasionally during the day throughout 

 the year. Its food consists of small birds, mice, and insects, for 

 which they seek at night. 



Harris' Finch op Sparrow. 



Black-hooded Sparrow. 



ula.) 



Fig. 6. 



(Zonotrichia quer 



Nuttall first described this species from specimens taken by him 

 in 1840, in the State of Missouri. It is a bird of commanding ap- 

 pearance, and is met with in the Missouri region. Its habits and 

 song resemble those of the White-throated Sparrow, figured on 

 Plate XXXVI., and described on page 49. 



Oregon Snow-bird. (Junco oregonus.) 

 Fig. 7. 



The range of this species is from the Rocky Mountains to the 

 Pacific coast. In summer this Snow-bird is found inhabiting the 

 pine woods of the mountains, and in winter it descends to the low- 

 lands, entering towns and gardens in the same manner as its re- 

 lation figured on Plate XXXVIII., and described on page 53. 



PLATE XCVI. 



Canada Grouse. 

 Black Grouse. 



Spruce Grouse. Wood Grouse. Swamp Partridge. 

 Black-spotted Heath Cock. ( Tetrao canadensis?) 



Fig. 1. 



This species is found in favorable localities, from the northern 

 parts of the United States, from whence it extends its migrations 

 as far north to the limit of the woods, and to the Arctic ocean. 

 The black-spruce forests between Canada and the Arctic Sea are 

 a favorable abiding place of this species. An interesting ac- 

 count of this bird by Archer, author of " Game of Arctic Lands," 

 appeared in Vol. IX., No. 9, of the Chicago Field, from which 

 we take the following extracts : 



" There are few Grouse in the fauna of North America of which 

 so little is known by sportsmen and the people at large, as the sub- 

 ject of this chapter. It is seldom that the former consider it worth 

 their while to spend a few hours in its pursuit alone, for in some 

 inconceivable manner they have obtained the impression that the 

 Wood Grouse is totally wanting in all attributes which constitute 

 gameness, and that in table qualifications it is at any time inferior 

 to all other known species. The sooner the public are disabused 

 of such errors the better. These desirable qualities are not lack- 

 ing in this species, but, as with other Grouse, depend largely upon 

 the local habits of the birds, and the season at which they are pur- 

 sued. In the deep, coniferous forests and dark swamps, seldom 

 pressed by the foot of man, it can not be expected that they would 

 be otherwise than tame. The researches of scientists and natural- 

 ists lead us to believe that the fear of man is an implanted in- 

 stinct, and it is only as this destroyer encroaches upon their haunts, 

 and ruthlessly pursues them for his own purposes, that they learn 

 to fear him ; consequently birds acquire the characteristics which 

 constitute gameness as a means of protecting them from their 

 hitherto unknown enemy. So, too, this beautiful bird develops 

 these qualities only as the northern forests are opened up by the 

 pioneer and land-hunter; and, a few years hence, it is highly 



