212 Birds of Colorado 



it is a resident or only a summer bird ; it is generally considered to 

 belong to the former category, but there seems to be no winter record 

 for the State except that of Hersey and Rockwell, who noticed a few 

 during that season at Barr, 



The following localities are reported : Fort Collins, breeding (Bendire), 

 Greeley, breeding (Colo. Coll. Mus.), Boulder co., breeding on plains 

 (Gale), near Colorado Springs and Limon, not common (Aiken), Baca 

 CO., very common (Warren), Routt co., rare (Warren), Grand Junction 

 common resident (Rockwell), Cortez (Gilman) and La Plata co., common 

 (Morrison). 



Habits. — This little Owl presents a very remarkable 

 departure from the habits of all other Owls. It inhabits 

 the treeless plains, it is more or less gregarious, and it 

 nests in burrows underground. As is well known, it 

 is often found associated with prairie-dogs and rattle- 

 snakes, but the old idea of the three living together in 

 perfect amity has been long since dispelled. As a rule 

 certainly, perhaps invariably, the Owl only takes up 

 its abode in deserted burrows, and these particular ones 

 can nearly always be detected by the litter and filth 

 strewed near the entrance. 



This Owl is quite diurnal in habits, and often stands 

 on the little mound by the side of its hole. Here it can 

 be noticed bowing and dipping, by the passer-by. In 

 other parts of its range it inhabits badger, skunk or 

 spermophiles' holes, and it is said that occasionally it 

 burrows for itself. Bendire, at any rate, watched it 

 enlarging one. It hunts chiefly in the evening and at 

 night, preying on young prairie-dogs and small mammals, 

 but more often, judging by Fisher's researches, on grass- 

 hoppers and beetles. It seldom catches birds, though 

 Gale found the remains of a Horned Lark in a burrow 

 examined by him. 



The nest is a rounded chamber, about two to three 

 feet below the surface, and is approached by a curved 

 or straight passage of from four to five feet long. Gale 



