. 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 Screech Owls Recognition Marks.—As in preceding—lighter and grayer. Range of 0. a. gilmani.—Southwestern California, southern Arizona, and southwestern New Mexico (presumably also northern Sonora). Occurrence in California.—Resident in the valley of the lower Colorado River and probably also in the Imperial Valley. Authorities.—H. Brown (Megascops asio cineraceus), Condor, vol. vi., 1904, p. 46 (Colo. Valley, on Calif, side); Grinnell, Univ. Ca
. 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 Screech Owls Recognition Marks.—As in preceding—lighter and grayer. Range of 0. a. gilmani.—Southwestern California, southern Arizona, and southwestern New Mexico (presumably also northern Sonora). Occurrence in California.—Resident in the valley of the lower Colorado River and probably also in the Imperial Valley. Authorities.—H. Brown (Megascops asio cineraceus), Condor, vol. vi., 1904, p. 46 (Colo. Valley, on Calif, side); Grinnell, Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., vol. xii., 1914, p. 128 (Colo. Valley); Gilman, Condor, vol. xi., 1909, p. 147 (Ariz.; desc. nests; habits, etc.); Swarth, Condor, vol. xviii., 1916, p. 163 (crit., desc, meas.). TO ONE whose early studies have been conducted in the forests and deciduous groves of the East it is a disappointment to learn that the birds of California will not respond to the Screech Owl cry. Why, go out in any grove from Iowa to Massachusetts, at any time of year, at any hour of daylight, save the siesta interval from 10 a. m. to 2 p. m., secrete yourself in a thicket and simulate the mournful, rolling call of the little Screech Owl, and you will at once be con- scious of an apprehensive hush in the neighboring trees and bushes. Then follows a murmur of inquiry; Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches, Warb- lers, Vireos, and Jays set out to discover the whereabouts of this arch-enemy who has been indiscreet enough to proclaim his presence during the hours of his helplessness. If a veritable Owl is found, as not infrequently happens, every bird's bill is against him, and there is none so poor to do him reverence—by daylight. This is not alone because he appears stupid and sleepy, or because he regards his tormentors with the fixed gravity of a round-eyed gaze, varied only by "that forlorn, almost despairing wink" peculiar to it, but because they have an ancient and
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1923
