THE GREEX-KACER. 3 



Living near the water, but occasionally wan- 

 dering amongst the grass, are quantities of bril- 

 liant green snakes, the green-racer (Basca- 

 nion vetustus, Baird & Grd.). Not only does 

 it bask on the grassy banks, or if frightened glide 

 through the herbage, with arrowlike rapidity, 

 but climbs trees with the ease and rapidity of a 

 squirrel. In pursuit of tree-frogs, its favourite 

 food, the snakes so nearly resemble green succu- 

 lent branches, that I have often put my hand on 

 them when birds' -nesting or seeking for insects. 

 It always startled me, though I constantly took 

 them in my hand, as I should a plant or a cater- 

 pillar, for examination. This snake's general 

 residence is in the hole of a ground-squirrel, 

 which is also chosen as a nesting-place by the 

 western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) . 



I dug out several squirrel-holes whilst at this 

 camp ; in one I found two eggs of the burrowing 

 owl, the female owl, a racer-snake, and an old 

 lady-squirrel. The burrowing owl is strictly of 

 diurnal habits, and feeds principally on crickets, 

 grasshoppers, large beetles, and Iarva3. I do not 

 think it ever captures small animals or birds ; a 

 peaceful harmless bird, with little to boast of in 

 appearance, voice, or wisdom. Why called Athene 

 it would be hard to find out. Not by any means 



B 2 



