HORNED OWLS, ETC.: SAW-WHET OWL 
337 
his wings, abruptly and noiselessly turning his course upward with 
a swoop. The clapping was clearly visible with the field-glass and the 
fluttering sound produced by it was distinctly audible.” The flight- 
song was heard the following year on the seventeenth of March and 
“the high flight” and “wing clapping” on the twenty-third of June, 
when there were young in the nest. At this time, after examining the 
four young in the wheat field nest, Mr. Du Bois withdrew to watch the 
maneuvers of their parents. One parent disappeared, he says, “as soon 
as I left the young and was probably on the ground with them but the 
other flew and soared in circles above me, gradually climbing until he 
was at a great height. During the time that I watched, he twice in¬ 
dulged in wing-clapping. Having thus spiraled upward above me to his 
maximum height, he shifted his center of flight to a point more nearly 
over the nest, at the same time reducing his elevation” (1924, 260-261). 
While studying the Short-eared Owls of that locality during a term 
of four years, Mr. Du Bois noted a number of “vocal sounds,” which he 
gives under the heads of “nurture signals” and “cries of remonstrance.” 
- The “nurture signals,” uttered by the parent while on the nest, during 
the nurture of young (observed from a tent-blind close to the nest), 
included “a low cuk somewhat similar to the cluck of a hen,” that was 
“a note of reassurance to silence the chicks when they cried,” warning 
notes when danger seemed to threaten, a note of affection, and “a hiss, 
or soughing sound, produced by expulsion of air through the open 
bill (not by vocal chords),” expressing “displeasure, admonition, or 
defiance.” The “cries of remonstrance” included barking notes, a fero¬ 
cious purring growl, and “a prolonged, very high-pitched squealing 
cry (a sham cry of distress), uttered while on the ground, either stand¬ 
ing or floundering in simulation of injury and helplessness” (1924, pp. 
262-263). 
Additional Literature.—Brewster, William, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 
Harvard College, LXVI, 371-373, 1925.— Dubois, A. D., Auk, XL, 383-393, 1923 
(foster mother to chickens); XLI, 260-263, 1924 (nuptial song flight).— Kitciiin, 
E. A., Condor, XXI, 21-25, 1919 (nest).— Philipp, P. B., Educational Leaflet 12, 
Nat. Assoc. Audubon Soc.— Saunders, A. A., Condor, XV, 121-125, 1913— Urner, 
C. A., Auk, XL, 30-36, 1923; XL1I, 31-41, 1925 (nests). 
SAW-WHET OWL: Cryptoglaux ac&dica adidica (Gmelin) 
Description. Length: 7.2-8.5 inches, wing 5.2-5.9, tail 2.8-3.2. Ear-parts very 
large and extremely unsymmetrical, skull Beeming misshapen. Head very large } 
without ear-tufts , facial disc complete; feet closely feathered to claws. Adults: 
Upperparts brown, top of head with white shaft lines, back, wings and tail spotted 
with white, tail crossed with three rows of white spots , and tipped with white; brows 
and lores usually mainly whitish except for black spot at inner corner of eye, face 
streaked with dark brown; underparts white , streaked coarsely with reddish brown; iris 
yellow, bill, feet, and claws black. Young injuvenal plumage: Unlike adults except 
