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NATURAL HISTORY. 



ATHENE. (Gr. proper name.) 



Cunicularia (Lat. of the Rabbit], the Burrowing Owl. 



The BURROWING O\VL accompanies the prairie dog, and where- 

 ever that animal chooses to live, there is the Burrowing Owl. 

 This singular little bird finds that to take possession of the 

 ready-made burrows of the prairie dog is much more agreeable 

 than to dig a hole for itself; so it takes unfurnished lodgings 

 in a deserted dwelling, undisturbed by anything except a casual 

 lizard or rattlesnake. 



So numerous are these little owls, that they may be seen 

 in small flocks seated on the tops of the mounds in which the 

 entrance of the burrows is formed. It is said that the owls, 

 marmots (or prairie-dogs), lizards, and snakes, all live har- 

 moniously in one happy family. Such, however, is not really 

 the case, as the Burrowing Owls prefer holes unoccupied by 

 any other tenant, and have been seen with something mo* 

 suspiciously like a young snake struggling in their mouths. 

 The bottom of its hole is generally comfortably filled with 

 dried hay and roots. 



The legs of this bird are longer than those of other owls 

 It is by no means large, measuring but ten inches in length. 



