158 
ZOOLOGY. 
No. 5897, Santa Clara, Cal., November 5, 1855. Length, 9.50 inches; extent, 25. Iris, yellow; bill, horn color; 
toes, gray. 
Although obtained by Dr. Suckley at Fort Dalles, I met with none of them in the plains 
north of the Columbia river. There is little doubt, however, of their being found there earlier 
in summer than I visited that part of the Territory. 
In California this owl lives in the vacant burrows of the California “ground squirrel /’ 
(Spermophilus Beecheyi.) I never saw or heard of any burrowing animal as large as this north 
of the Columbia, except the badger.—C. 
Specimens of this bird I obtained at Fort Dalles. As there are no prairie dogs at Fort 
Dalles, and but few burrowing animals except the Spermophilus Douglas sit, or prairie squirrel, 
whose burrows are too small for the entrance of this bird, I am inclined to think that their 
abodes in that vicinity are more among the fissures and cracks of the basaltic rock, so abundant 
there, rather than in the soft earth. As to the habits of this bird in Oregon I can say nothing, 
as the specimens I obtained were killed by others. Abundant at the Dalles and probably 
throughout the timberless interior of both Oregon and Washington, but not seen by me west 
of the Cascade mountains.—S. 
GLAUCIDIUM GNOMA, Wagler. 
The Pigmy Owl. 
Glaucidium gnoma, Wagler, Isis, XXV, p. 275, (1832.)— Baird & Cassin, Gen. Eep. Birds, p. 62. 
“ Strixpasserinoides, Temm.” Aud. Orn. Biog. V, p. 271, pi. 432, figs. 4, 5 : octavo edition, I, pi. 30. 
“ Strix infuscata, Temm.” Cassin, B. of Cal. & Texas, I, p. 189. 
Glaucidium califomicum, Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1857, p. 4. 
Sp. Ch.—-T he smallest of North American owls, and well marked by its dark brown back, dotted with small round spots 
of dull white. Female largest, and with rather larger spots. 
No. 9162, Shoalwater bay, November 1, 1854. Female: length, 7.50; extent, 14 inches. Iris yellow; bill and feet pale 
yellow, the former slightly tinged with green. 
This (the smallest owl found in the Territory) I have only seen once, though it seems to be 
not very uncommon. On the first of November, 1854, I observed it among a flock of sparrows, 
which did not seem at all frightened by its presence. For some time I thought it was one of 
them, though its large head and owl-like flight seemed to me strange. It was plainly diurnal 
in habits, not seeming to seek any shelter from the sunshine. Its stomach contained only 
insects, and it is probable that it does not often attack birds.—C. 
I have obtained two specimens of this owl at Puget Sound, where it seems to be moderately 
abundant. It appears to be diurnal in its habits, gliding about in shady situations in pursuit of 
its prey. I saw a bird of this kind, about mid-day, in a shady alder swamp near Nisqually. It 
flitted noiselessly past me several times, alighting near by, on a low branch, as if to examine 
the intruder. It seemed quite tame and entirely unsophisticated. As I was hunting deer at 
the time I refrained, reluctantly, from shooting it. I noticed that, in flying, the tail was kept 
rather widely spread. Near a small lake, in the neighborhood of Fort Steilacoom, I frequently 
heard the voice of a small owl, the notes of which were subdued and clear, like the low, soft 
notes of a flute. As the only small owl which I ever saw in the neighborhood belonged to this 
species, it is probable that the sounds I heard emanated from an individual of the kind.—S. 
