Brewster on the Acadian Owl. 
2 5 
indication of any second plumage on the other parts, but about 
August 15 a few streaked feathers appeared along the central line 
of the breast and abdomen, while a little later the moult began 
over the back and wings and quickly became general. Through 
the last two weeks of the month the new plumage gained daily, 
and by Sept. 1 the final stage was perfected and the bird had be- 
come a remarkably beautiful Saw- whet Owl. From this it 
appears that the u albifrons ” condition is simply the first plum- 
age, which in the Saw-whet is apparently better defined (as con- 
trasted with the earlier downy stage and later autumnal plumage) , 
as well as longer worn, than in most other Owls. 
The specimen just mentioned is still (at the date of this writ- 
ing, Dec. 1) alive and well. It has become rather wilder and 
less gentle than formerly, and lately has acquired a habit of swel- 
ling its plumage and snapping the bill when closely approached. 
Shortly after the moult it began a new cry, which is now fre- 
quently heard at night and occasionally, also in the day-time. 
This utterance consists of a series of five or six low, chuckling 
but nevertheless whistled calls, which remind one of that pecu- 
liar, drawling soliloquy sometimes indulged in by a dejected hen 
on a rainy day. I cannot reconcile these notes with descriptions 
of the saw-filing ones which are supposed to have given the spe- 
cies its name, but they perhaps represent the unfinished perform- 
ance of a young bird. The bat-like squeaking was discontinued 
before the bird began to whistle, and has never since been heard. 
At the time of writing the article already referred to I received 
the impression that the nest then mentioned was the only one 
that Mr. Perham had found. But I have since learned that, in- 
cluding the two taken the present season, he has actually examined 
no less than seven during the past ten years, all of which occurred 
in or near the township of Tyngsboro’. Most of these nests 
were, however, broken up by red squirrels before the full com- 
plement of eggs was laid. The nesting places were usually 
of the artificial sort which I have already described, but occa- 
sionally use was made of a deserted Flicker’s hole. Mr. Perham 
frequently hears the notes of Sawwvhets during the month of 
March, and believes that many pairs breed about Tyngsboro’ 
every season. The region is a heavily wooded one and apparently 
offers exceptional attractions to all kinds of Raptorial birds. 
