SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SCREECH OWL. Otus asio quercinus Grinnell

Field characters.—Size small for an owl (length about 9 inches); head with conspicuous ear tufts (fig. 39b); whole plumage streaked with dark and light gray, in general effect resembling the bark of an oak tree; eyes yellow. Voice: A series of low-toned, mellow notes uttered in a rapid series, with diminishing intervals; also single soft clucking notes, especially when adults and young are foraging together.

Occurrence.—Rare resident of foothill belt on west slope of Sierra Nevada (Upper Sonoran and lower part of Transition zones). Frequents live oaks and golden oaks.

In our experience with the Southern California Screech Owl elsewhere in the State we have come to associate it in our minds with the live oak belt. Where live oaks occur there we expect to find this owl common. Such was not the case, however, as regards the Yosemite region. Although we made special search for it at several likely points in the foothill belt we ourselves failed to find it there at all.

Our only record is of a single bird seen in the golden oaks near the foot of the Yosemite Falls Trail in Yosemite Valley on the evening of November 20, 1915, just as our field work for the season was drawing to a close. The bird was heard and momentarily seen close at hand. Within a quarter of an hour there were also heard in the same vicinity, besides this screech owl, 2 great horned owls, a pigmy owl, and a spotted owl.

On January 13, 1916, Mr. Donald D. McLean succeeded in capturing alive a screech owl at Smith Creek, east of Coulterville.