MICRATHEN'E WHITNETI. 
WHITNEY'S PIGMY OWL. 
ATHENE WHITNETI. Cooper. Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Scien. (1801), p. 118. 
MICRATHENE WHITNEYI. Coues. Proc, Acad. Nat, Scien. Phil. (1866), p. 51. 
This extraordinary little Owl was obtained by Dr. J. G. CoorER at Port Mojave, on the Colorado river, 35° N, on the 26th April, 1861, 
and this specimen, the one from which my drawing was made, is at the present time, I believe, the only one in any collection. 
Among the smallest of the known species of owls, more diminutive even than the Glaucidium Gnoma, this bird yet resembles in its 
size and style of markings the Athene Brodei of Burton from Asia, much more indeed than any species of ow r l as yet discovered in North 
America, It differs from the G. Gnoma, by having a smaller and more feeble bill, longer wings, aud a shorter tail. The tarsi are not 
feathered, while the claws are small and weak. 
The naked tarsi would seem to indicate that this owl, like the species of the genus Athene, was terrestial in its habits, although, 
on the other baud, the lengthened middle toe, which with its claw is as long as the tarsus, would naturally lead us to suppose that it was 
more at home among the trees. 
Coues, as quoted above, has formed a new genus for this bird, and although it resembles Athene in the naked tarsus, yet it has so 
many points of difference, it is probably more correct to classify it in a genus by itself. Nothing I believe is known of its habits, but 
it certainly is the most interesting of the many additions lately made to our Avi-fauna. 
I am indebted to Prof. Whitney, of the Academy of Natural Sciences of San Francisco, whose name this species bears, for the loan 
of the type to be figured for this work. 
Front, light rufous, entire upper parts dark brown, with numerous small spots of light rufous brown. Outer web of scapulars 
white. Primaries dark brown, the outer webs having spots of rufous, some of which are white near the edge. Tail dark brown, 
both webs barred with rufous, the bars not reaching the shaft. Feathers of the disk, light rufous. Throat and upper part of breast 
white mottled w T ith light rufous. Rest of under parts white, the centre of the feathers light brown. The entire plumage beneath pre- 
sents a confused mottling of white and light brown, the white predominating upon the abdomen and lower tail-coverts. Tarsi and 
toes covered with yellowish hair-like feathers. Bill black, horn-color at tip. Figures are life-size. The tree is the Iron wood, Car- 
pinus Astrya. 
