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.