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Cannibalism in Owls

Authors
C. H. Richardson, Jr.
Journal
Condor
Volume
8
Issue
2 (March-April)
Year
1906
Pages
57
Section
From Field and Study
Online Text

Cannibalism in Owls

On March 21, 1905, Dr. Wm. Bebb of this city, kindly gave me a female specimen of Syrnium occidentale (spotted owl) which was killed on the Old Wilson Peak trail near here. Upon dissection, the stomach was found to contain remains of a pygmy owl (Glaucidium gnoma), a portion of the skull enabling me to positively identify it. The spotted owl was taken about 6 P. M., and judging from the freshness of the stomach contents, the pygmy owl could not have been captured any great length of time. The case of “owl eat owl” is not a new one, but it would be of interest to determine which species is the greatest offender.

C. H. RICHARDSON, JR.

Pasadena, Cal.

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