Concord, Mass.
1910.
Oct 31
(No 2)
[October 31, 1910]

but his eyes were tightly closed and he seemed to be taking a nap.
  Our next visit was made about 2.30 P.M. when we found
that the Saw-whet had changed his position a little having
moved a foot or more higher up on the branch. He was now as
wide awake as any diurnal bird of prey and evidently was 
watching the ground beneath in the hope of discovering some
mouse or beetle there. A few minutes later he suddenly spread 
his wings and descended smoothly and swiftly to a spot
about 15 ft. off where he rose almost immediately, evidently
without any booty, and returned to his former perch. A moment
later he swooped again, this time to a spot a few yards 
further off where he was lost to sight among some withered ferns.
Nearly a full minute passed before he reappeared when he flew
off through the swamp into a thicket of young pines. Whether or not
he captured anything we could not see. We did not
follow him but at once returned to the farm house.