261 
ner, as they bent themselves to tiio task of fitting the acorns into the holes, which had 
served the same purpose the last season, and perhaps many seasons before, the work 
must be an important one in their own estimation, whatever the object. With them, 
however, it is not by auy means “ all work and no play,” but, on the contrary, the 
labor, if labor it be to them, is lightened by much gamboling and chasing each other 
in and out of the branches in circular sweeps, like boys playing at tag. Indeed, there 
is no reason why they should not make merry, for food is abundant and easily obtained, 
not only in the fall, when the acorns are thus laid away, but during all the winter, a 
fact which serves to make their economy appear all the more inexplicable and useless. 
The species is a resident one wherever found. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Collector. 
300 
? ad. 
cf ad. 
? 
cf jun. 
cf jun. 
Fort Tejon, Cal. 
Aug. 7 
Aug. 7 
Aug. 7 
Aug. 8 
Aug. 10 
H. W. Henshaw. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
301 
.do. 
302 
.do. 
316 
.do. 
348 
.do. 
120. Colaptes mexicanus, (Swains.).—Red-shafted Flicker. 
This Flicker is found throughout Southern California, without reference to special 
locality, being common both in the mountains and in the low districts. Its habits 
agree essentially with those of the Common Flicker of the East. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Collector. 
187 
cf jun. 
? jun. 
d ad. 
Santa Barbara, Cal . 
July 25 
Aug. 8 
TT. ~W . TTpnsbriTV. 
319 
Fort Tejon, Cal. 
Do. 
624 
Kernville, Cal ....... 
Oct. 25 
Do. 
Strigida:.—Owls. 
121. Strix flammea, Linn., var. amencana, (And.).—American Barn Owl. 
Strix flammea, Linn., Syst. Nat., i, 1766, 133. 
Strix americana, Aud., Syn., 1839, 25. 
Strixpratincola, Newb., P. R. R. Rep., vi, 1857, 76.—Bd., B. N. A., 1858, 47.—Xantug, Proc. Phil. 
Acad. Nat. Sci., 1859, 190.—Heerm., P. R. R. Rep., x, 1859, pt. vi, 34.—Coop., B. Cal., i, 1870, 
415. 
Strix flammea var. pratincola , B., B., & R., N. A. B., iii 1874, 13. 
The Barn Owl appears to be common throughout Southern California, and in some 
portions, as in the swamps near Los Angeles and again in the San Bernardino Valley, 
I found it in great numbers. This was in June, aud they had gathered themselves into 
communities numbering, in one instance, at least twenty. They resorted in the day¬ 
time to the dense undergrowth of the swamps or the thickest foliage of the oaks, to 
doze away in quiet the hours of sunlight. Dusk fairly settling down, they may be seen 
silently issuing by twos and threes from their shady retreats in quest of food. It be¬ 
comes less numerous in the northern part of the State, though, according to Dr. Cooper, 
it is found to the Columbia River. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Collector. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Bill. 
Tarsus. 
29 
cf ad. 
Los Angeles, Cal. 
Juno 17 
H. W. Hensbaw. 
13. 23 
5. 50 
1.33 
2. 82 
773 
? 
Santa Barbara, Cal. 
June 14 
-do. 
13. 75 
6. 00 
1. 35 
2. 85 
122. Bubo virginianus, (Gmel.), var. arcticus .—Western Great Horned Owl. 
This Owl is found throughout California, confining itself for shelter to the wooded 
districts. It is a solitary species, the pairs separating as soon as the young are out of 
the way. Except during the breeding-season, it hunts only by night, though its pow¬ 
ers of vision are excellent during the brightest hours of day. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Collector. 
330 
cf 
Fort Tejon, Cal. 
% 
Aug. 8 
H. W. Hensliaw. 
AP. JJ— 17 
