150 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. Xl 
first one was flusht from a hole by rapping on the base of a tree. I collected him, 
and returning, climbed the tree to another promising-looking hole higher up. 
Cutting into this I secured the female. The first bird had been shot at long range, 
and suffered only an injured wing, so I took them home and kept them in a cage 
for a short time. They freely ate what few crickets and grasshoppers I could 
secure for them, but refused to eat small birds. Mice were not procurable, and the 
supply of insects running short, I had to add them to my collection of skins. 
During the day they remained very quiet, but at night made a choice assortment of 
noises, which, as I kept them in my room, w T ere very entertaining, especially about 
midnight. One note very much resembled that of the Western Bluebird, and 
another sounded like the squeak concealed in a rubber doll. At no time did they 
bite or scratch, and were very easy subjects to pose for a photograph. I am 
indebted to Mr. Hudson for the pictures of these owls as well as for that of 
the Pigmy. 
ELF OWL 
May 10, I cut into a woodpecker’s hole in a cottonwood tree and secured an 
owl and one egg. I took the bird home and in the night she laid another egg, and 
as a reward I turned her loose. Out driving one day I noticed an Elf head stuck 
from a hole in a giant cactus some 16 feet from the ground. I drove the wagon 
close to the tree, and by standing up on the back of the seat could reach the first 
limb. Up the cactus I scrambled and scracht my way, while Mr. Hudson 
applauded and took a snap-shot with his camera. By standing on top of a branch I 
could reach the hole, but found no eggs to compensate for time afterwards spent in 
removing spines from various portions of my anatomy. 
The Pima Indians seem to make no distinction between the Elf and the Pigmy 
Owls, calling them both Koo-ah-kohld. I showed both species to them, and 
pointed out the difference, but it was all one to them. So I have to be content with 
their specific names for only four of the six owls found here. 
Sacaton, Arizona. 
