Chapter II: GENUS GLAUCIDIUM. Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 970

Size small; head moderate, without ear-tufts; wings moderate, fourth quill usually longest; tail rather long; tarsi fully feathered; facial disc obsolete; bill short, strong, rather wide at base; claws long, curved, very sharp. This genus contains a few species, amongst which are the smallest birds of this family.

1. Glaucidium infuscatum. (Temm.) The pigmy Owl.
Strix infuscata. Temm., Man. d’Orn., I. p. 97. (1820.)
Glaucidium gnoma. Wagler, Isis, XXV. p. 275. (1832.)
“Strix passerinoides. Temm.” Aud., Orn. Biog., V. p. 271; Oct.
ed., I. p. 117.

Aud., B. of Am., pl. 432, fig. 4, 5; Oct. ed., I. pl. 30.

Very small, the smallest Owl yet discovered in North America; head
moderate; outer three quills sinuated on their inner edges, fourth
quill longest; tail rather long; tarsi densely feathered; toes
partially covered with long hairs. Adult. Entire upper parts
brownish-olive, on the head with numerous circular spots of dull
white; a partially concealed white band around the neck behind,
succeeded by another of black; scapulars and superior coverts of the
wings with white spots; throat white; a narrow band of mottled
brownish-olive across the neck before; other under parts white, with
longitudinal stripes of dark olive-brown on the flanks and abdomen;
quills dark brown, with small spots of white on their outer edges, and
large circular spots of the same on their inner webs; tail dark brown,
with five or six pairs of circular or oval spots of white on every
feather, larger on the inner webs; bill light yellowish; irides
yellow.

Dimensions. Total length, 6½ to 7 inches; wing, 3¾; tail, 3 inches.

Hab. Oregon (Dr. Townsend); California (Mr. Bell, Dr. Heermann.)

Obs. This minute species of Owl is exclusively Western, having as yet only been noticed in California. It much resembles the European _Glaucidium passerinum_, and is about the same size. The most readily detected differences are the nearly naked toes of the present bird, and the absence of the decided reddish tinge which prevails in the color of the European species. It also resembles _G. passerinoides_ of South America, but differs also from that species in color and other particulars.

This is the least of the species of Owls inhabiting North America, and has never been observed east of the Rocky Mountains. It lives on insects.