The Pygmy Owls 
curious impersonality about the gaze of this little owl. Even when he 
does look in your direction (and he does not flatter you by constant atten¬ 
tion by any means), he does not appear to focus on you at all. Perhaps 
this is a trick of the eye, or else arises from its unlikeness to that of other 
owls. For although the atmosphere on this occasion was full of light, the 
bird’s pupils were dilated to the utmost, and the irides were mere yellow 
rims. 
When first put to 
flight, by approach from 
below, Owlikins did not 
flutter off like a soft 
shadow, as might have 
been expected, but 
pitched downward nearly 
to the ground and buzzed 
off like a young meteor, 
fetching up suddenly on 
another osier branch some 
fifty feet away. Thither 
I followed and clambered 
up to a point within six 
feet of him on the level. 
Even then the bird did not 
appear greatly disturbed, 
and he deliberately looked 
away from me as often as 
at me—affording an ex¬ 
ample of self-sufficiency 
which was really startling. 
In “bout facing” not a 
muscle of the body moved 
but only the grim little 
death’s head went round California pygmy owl 
and round. The Little 
Corporal was not greatly disturbed, either, by the noise; but when I 
reproduced the Screech Owl cry, he gave me careful attention and ap¬ 
peared so interested that when he flew again it was only for a space of 
ten feet. 
Each time, a little before he shifted, the bird evacuated, with an 
absurd little stretch and recoil, apparently so as to be ready for eventuali¬ 
ties. By the way, what a fierce digestion those little cannibals must have, 
for their excrement is always glistening white! I do not know how else 
