326 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
some little distance away, doubtless in consideration of owl-mobbing 
neighbors. Here he gave a whistle, a single note usually repeated 
three times, to which his mate responded with a soft twitter as she 
flew to him. Among the various tidbits brought her, lizards were 
easily recognized by their long, hanging tails (1926, p. 92.). 
As this attractive little Owl is both diurnal and tame and breeds 
in New Mexico, it offers an opportunity for interesting nest studies that 
should not be missed. Its love notes have been compared to the soft 
cooing of the Mourning Dove. 
Additional Literature.—Mailliaiid, Joseph, Condor, XXIV 31-32 1922 
(bathing). ’ 
ELF OWL: Micropallas whitneyi whitneyi (J. G. Cooper) 
Plate 60 
Description. Length: 5.5-6.2 inches, wing 4-4.4, tail 1.9-2.3. Head without 
ear-tufts, facial disc incomplete, legs scantily haired, toes sparsely bristled, claws small 
and weak. Dichromatic. Adults: Hind-neck with interrupted whitish collar 
upperparts grayish or brownish, finely mottled with darker and indistinctly speckled with 
pale rusty; tail brownish, with five or six narrow, interrupted bands of pale brownish 
or rusty; wings spotted with whitish and pale rusty; eyebrows, lores and “cravat” 
white; underparts white, vertically blotched with dark brown and rusty and finely 
mottled with darker; iris bright yellow. Young: Similar to adults but top of head 
nearly pure brownish gray, without cinnamon buff on face or throat, or buffy brown 
on underparts; underparts irregularly marbled and barred. 
Range.— Southeastern California to southwestern New Mexico 
through tablelands of Mexico. 
and 
south 
S TA f TE i, RE M RU ':r ThC , Elf ° Wl iS a common inhabitant of southeastern Arizona 
nearly to the New Mexico line and one was collected September 6, 18S6, near Apache 
t’- bv M R °f ’ 3 °, mileS W6St ° f S,lver City ’ two were 'aken, May 13, 
rith ^Uoggj and at Silver City, where he has collected others, he says they 
are rather common. Mr. Ligon thinks Silver City about the northern boundary of 
their range m the State (1916-1918).]—W. W. Cooke. y 
whif e E8T - In ° ld wood P° cker holes in giant cactus or hollow trees. Eggs: 2 to 5, 
mamm°ds _S ° “ kn ° Wn ’ beetleS ’ Wack antS ’ crickets < caterpillars, and small 
General Habits.— With the Western Great Horned Owl—nearly 
two feet long—at one end of our owl scale, and the Elf Owl—only five 
or slx inches long-at the other, we can well appreciate the name 
Codded f’ w-' O' 6 EIf w , the SmalleSt of thc owIs sacred t0 Dallas, the 
thumb tht, ? Ti ° t0 PerCh quite cornfor ^bly on a man’s 
u b, this tiny Owl, were it not so strictly nocturnal, would repay 
a visit to thc giant cactus country to study its little known habits. Its 
J:; re h ?, rd , a f 80011 as ]t begins to grow dark,” so something inter- 
Mahfr R Ig l l , by the Student on the g roun( l> especially as 
Major Bendire has found that the Elfs are attracted by a camp fire 
ana its flying insects. 
