176 



LAND BIRDS 



of truth in them. The owls hunt among the burrows 

 for young mammals, and the offspring of the " dogs " are 

 doubtless a choice tidbit ; the snakes crawl from hole to 

 hole for the same purpose, but include owl eggs and 

 nestlings in their menu. So far as I have been able to 

 observe, the '^dogs" are in terror from both, but the 



378. Burrowing Owl. 



" They converse in soft love notes." 



sudden advent of a human intruder causes the three 

 enemies to pop suddenly down the same hole with 

 surprising unanimity. 



Usually one may find the Owls sitting at the doorway 

 of their own nest-burrow, which may be the excavation 

 of some badger or prairie dog whose claim they have 

 "jumped." If the young Owls are old enough, they will 

 be there also in the family circle, but at sight of a 



