Page:Condor11(5).djvu/7

 Sept., 1909 SOME OWLS ALONG THE GILA RIVER IN ARIZONA 149 Woodpecker hole sonhe seven feet up in a palo verde tree. Wishing to capture Mrs. Pigmy if she were at home I softly crept to the tree and stept up on a low branch in order to reach the hole. At the first noise the bird attempted to leave, but a hand clapt over the hole stopt her. A big handkerchief was thrust down the hole while I enlarged it sufficiently to insert my hand and arm. When my hand reached the bottom I thought it was in contact with a live 'wire, and I was abso- lutely sure I had "grabbed a live one." When the hand was withdrawn the owl canhe along quite easily. One claw was thru the nail of my little finger, another imbedded in big finger, while her beak was thrust deep into my thumb. Blood was running froin all three wounds, and the bird hung on like a bulldog. It took no little diplomacy to remove her without forming an entangling alliance with the other hand, but she was finally safe in a handkerchief. I will back one of these owls in a rough and tumble fight with any- ADULT PAIR OF ELF OWLS thing twice the size. The nest contained one egg, a small matter to put up such a big fight about. A cage was provided for Lady Bite-'em, and experiments in diet began. She freely ate the bodies of small birds collected, and was properly patriotic in that she showed a savage delight in assimilating English Sparrows. I kept her about six weeks and her appetite improved all the tinhe, any small fry being grist for her mill. She usually began eating at the head, and while she ate freely in the daytime, she disliked being watcht at her meals. I handled her frequently, at first with gloves on, in order to prepare her for a photograph. She objected to posing, but after sonhe difficulty a picture was secured by Mr. E. W. Hudson, in charge of the U.S. Experiment Station here at Sacatom When I teleast her, she made off at once, her powers of flight not at all impaired by the weeks of captivity. The tiny Elf Owl by reason of his strictly nocturnal habits is rarely seen. My