Nyctala acadica . 
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Cambr idge , Mass . 
1898. 
Feb. 13. 
(No. 3). 
Feb. 14. 
is rapidly becoming tame and no longer flutters against the 
bars of his cage. The House Sparrow lay untouched in the 
cage for four days when it was removed. A dead white mouse 
was substituted and promptly eaten (all but the head) on the 
following night. Yesterday at about noon the bird gave the 
saw -whistling call at frequent intervals for an hour or more 
the weather, at the time, being dark and lowerv. He called 
again at noon to-day ’when the sun was shining brightly. At 
close range (the cage is about 15 feet from my desk) the sound 
has little or no metallic quality and bears only the most re- 
mote resemblance to saw filing. On the contrary it may be 
best described as a soft and low but rather throaty whistle 
very like that of Glaucidium . It also suggests the peep of 
Hyla nicker in^ii but is much less clear and bell-like and is 
on a lower key. It is given very rapidly and evenly as a rule 
and the number of repetitions is very variable. Twice or 
thrice I have heard a prolonged, monosyllabic note more metal- 
lic in quality than the ordinary call but otherwise similar. 
The Saw-whet was unusually active this morning and during 
the forenoon kept flying from perch to perch but it did not 
appear to be in the least frightened or unhappy. At about 11 
A.M. it whistled twice, but briefly and in subdued tones. At 
3 P.M. I found it crouched on the bottom of the cage evidently 
