400 BULLETIN 17 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



very small rodent, skulls and backbones of fish, one of which was six inches long, 

 the skins of snakes, the dried body of a lizard, frogs and crayfish, and feathers 

 of four or five species of birds, noticeable among which were those of the Cuban 

 Nighthawk, Bobolink and Savanna Sparrow. 



Behavior. — Mr. Pennock says: "The flight is more undulating than 

 that of any other bird I know, a series of abrupt, sweeping rises and 

 swinging drops, rarely making a flight of more than 40 or 50 yards, 

 often swinging back to, or near, their home-site, or more frequently 

 dropping down to another burrow entrance, perhaps not over 20 or 

 30 yards distant." He thinks that this second burrow may be a 

 haven of refuge in time of trouble, as the owls often have two burrows 

 in use, one for nesting and one for a resting place. 



I have always found the Florida burrowing owl rather tame and 

 easily approached; others have had the same experience with it. 

 Once I lay for half an hour within 8 feet of one, as it stood on its 

 mound, preening and oiling its plumage, as a shower was threatening ; 

 I even saw it pinch its oil gland ; its small bill seemed rather awkward 

 for preening. Although it seemed to be very alert, it paid little atten- 

 tion to me, but kept turning its head quickly in all four directions, 

 looking for prey; two or three times it darted off and caught some 

 insect, either on the ground or in the air, giving a little cry as it started ; 

 on returning, it spread its feet widely apart and landed on its mound 

 with a little slide. Once it gaped, half closed its eyes, and dozed for a 

 few moments. 



As a rule these owls are very gentle, though they will put up quite 

 a fight when handled; but Mr. Rhoads (1892) says: ''The anxiety of 

 the old males whose young are being threatened is so great that I have 

 had them strike my cap awry while digging, and in general the conduct 

 of the females in comparison is shameful. * * * Where four or 

 five pairs were living close together the males would combine their 

 attacks upon me and the females would retire together to some secluded 

 spot and have a talk." 



Frederic H. Kennard (1915) writes: 



On approaching an inhabited burrow, if one or both of the owners were not 

 already in sight, they very quickly appeared; and standing bolt upright on their 

 little mound of sand at the mouth of the burrow, would courtesy gravely to me, 

 until on my nearer approach, they would fly off onto the prairie, perhaps fifty or 

 a hundred feet, where they would continue their courtesies, uttering at the same 

 time their calls, Whit, whit-whit, a long and two short notes: or Whit-whit, who- 

 who-who-who-whit, two short notes followed by a stutter, a little lower in tone but 

 ending with a short sharp whit at the end; or Whit-whit, who-who-who-who-who, 

 two short whits, followed by the stutter. Often instead of flying they would 

 run over the prairie, reminding me of the Robins one sees on the lawn, which 

 after standing upright and still, suddenly bend forward and run. 



Bendire (1892) says that "after the breeding season is over, the 

 Florida Burrowing Owl is said to disappear for a time from its usual 

 haunts, but where it goes is not positively known." , 



