Catalogue of Eggs, v4479
Page 53
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
CATALOGUE OF EGGS COLLECTION OF F. H. FOLLER (cont'd) Number Cat. Set A.O.U. 347. 1-3. 280. Aegialitis wilsonia. 348. 1-3. [illegible] Pipilo 349. 3-4. 366. Asio wilsonianus. 350. 6-3. 373. Megascops a. maxwelliae. Date Collector Locality Incub. June 15, 1898. Found on a sand spit on Old Tampa Bay, in a small hollow in the sand just large enough to hold the three eggs. Incubation was far advanced, the embryos having down on. The F was very solicitous, and played the wounded game. A male was secured on the 16th for identification. June 16, 1898. Nest in a low palmetto 20 yds. from Old Tampa Bay, composed of palm fibers. about 1 wk. May 4, 1899. Eggs laid in an old magpie's nest which had about one-third of the side torn out. No lining except the dead leaves which had blown in. The nest 15 ft. high in a willow, built near the main trunk. The bird was discovered by her ears which project above the doorway, and after taking a hurried look at me with her feathers flattened down, she took flight to a nearby tree, and from there to the dense brush. When I visited the nest an hour later, she had returned, and was flushed by a club thrown at the nest. The eggs average small and the bird was very likely a young one. May 4, 1899. Nest in the same hole from which all the eggs of this species in my collection have come. I think a young pair has possession this year, as the eggs are small and only three in number. In the hole where the male stays, I found the feathers of a magpie, and other feathers were scattered around outside the cavity. It therefore seems that this savage little owl includes the magpie in his list of game. Two other sets were taken from this pair. (27)