. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. 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
. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. 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 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. CALIFORNIA PYGMY OWL II3I. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations ma
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1923
