Natural History. 495 



tion, and which make gallopmg over these plains very dangerous. 

 These animals are never seen in the day, but as soon as the lower 

 Hmb of the sun reaches the horizon, they are seen issuing from 

 their holes in all directions, which are scattered in groups like little 

 villages, all over the Pampas. The biscachos, when full grown, 

 are nearly as large as badgers, but their head resembles a rabbit, 

 excepting that they have large bushy whiskers. In the evening 

 they sit outside their holes, and they all appear to be moralising. 

 They are the most serious looking animals I ever saw ; and even 

 the young ones are grey headed, have mustachios, and look 

 thoughtful and grave. In the day time their holes are always 

 guarded by tiuo little owls, who are never an instant away from 

 their post. As one gallops by these owls, they always stand looking 

 at the stranger and then at each other, moving their old-fashioned 

 heads in a manner which is quite ridiculous, until one rushes by 

 them, when fear gets the better of their dignified looks, and they 

 both nm into the biscachos* hole.'* — (Head's Rough Notes, p. 82.) 



Captain Head has not given us the name of this owl, but in all 

 probability it was the Strix Cunicularia, or Coquimbo Owl, which is 

 described as flying in pairs, sometimes by day, and making its 

 nest i?i long subterraneous burrows*. In the singular motion of 

 its head, it however corresponds with the Strix Brasiliana, or 

 Brownish Horned Owl, mentioned by Marcgrave in his History of 

 Brazil, which he says is easily tamed, and can so tiirn about its 

 neck that the tip of the beak shall exactly point at the middle of 

 the baok ; that it also plays with men like an ape, making many 

 m,owes, (as Willoughby translates it,) and antic mimical faceSy 

 and snapping with its bill. But for the best account we have 

 met with, we are indebted to the spletidid continuation of Wilson's 

 American Ornithology by Lucien Bonaparte, under the title *' Bur- 

 rowing Owl — a bird," he says, " that go far from seeking refuge 

 in the ruined habitations of man, fixes his residence within the 

 earth ; instead of concealing itself in solitary recesses of the forests, 

 delights to dwell on open plains, in company with animals remark- 

 able for their social disposition, neatness, and order. Instead of sail- 

 ing heavily forth in the obscurity of the evening or morning twilight, 

 and then retreating to its secluded abode, this bird enjoys the 

 broadest glare of the noon-day sun, and flying rapidly along^ 

 searches for food or pleasure during the cheeiful light of the day* 

 In the trans-Mississippian territories of the United States, this 

 very singular bird resides exclusively in the villages of the Marmot^ 

 or Prairie Dog, whose excavations are so commodious, as to render 

 it unnecessary that it should dig for itself, as it is said to do in 

 other parts of the world, where no burrowing animals exist. 

 These villages are very numerous, and variable in their extent, some- 

 times covering only a few acres, and at others spreading over the sur- 

 face of the country for miles together. They are composed of slightly 



♦ Turton, Lin. vol. i. 169. , 



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