WESTERN BURROWING OWL 391 



BeJiavior. — As an exception to the rule, stated in my opening para- 

 graph on this species, it is interesting to note that Clinton G. Abbott 

 (1930), when he came to San Diego in 1921, found burrowing owls 

 living — 



in well-settled parts of the city. A certain individual roosted daily in a pepper 

 tree in front of the Central Y. M. C. A., almost in the heart of the business dis- 

 trict. On El Cajon Boulevard, which was a well-traveled thoroughfare even in 

 those days, Burrowing Owls could often be seen perched on the side-walk curb. 

 They lived in the culvert drains under the intersecting streets. 



The paving of this boulevard has driven these birds away, and the Y. M. C. A. 

 "Billy" has gone, yet in spite of San Diego's present 150,000 population Burrowing 

 Owls still subsist wherever there is any extent of vacant land. In quiet streets 

 they can sometimes be seen hawking about the arc-lights at night and settling on 

 the pavement below — probably in pursuit of moths. On Reynard Way, which is 

 a short-cut between down town and the Mission Hills residential district, these 

 Owls are common, because many of the sloping lots on each side have not yet been 

 built upon. Even in broad daylight a "Ground Owl" may often be seen standing 

 upon some advertising sign, apparently unconcerned at the passing stream of 

 automobiles. 



Dr. Coues (1874) has given a far better word picture of this curious 

 owl than I can write, as follows: 



As commonly observed, perched on one of the innumerable little eminences 

 that mark a dog-town, amid their curious surroundings, they present a spectacle 

 not easily forgotten. Their figure is peculiar, with their long legs and short tail; 

 the element of the grotesque is never wanting; it is hard to say whether they look 

 most ludicrous as they stand stiffly erect and motionless, or when they suddenly 

 turn tail to duck into the hole, or when engaged in their various antics. Bolt 

 upright, on what may be imagined their rostrum, they gaze about with a bland 

 and self-satisfied, but earnest air, as if about to address an audience upon a subject 

 of great pith and moment. They suddenly bow low, with profound gravity, and 

 rising as abruptly, they begin to twitch their face and roll their eyes about in the 

 most mysterious manner, gesticulating wildly, every now and then bending for- 

 ward till the breast almost touches the ground, to propound the argument with 

 more telling effect. Then they face about to address the rear, that all may alike 

 feel the force of their logic; they draw themselves up to their fullest height, out- 

 wardly calm and self-contained, pausing in the discourse to note its effect upon the 

 audience, and collect their wits for the next rhetorical flourish. And no distant 

 likeness between these frothy orators and others is found in the celerity with which 

 they subside and seek their holes on the slightest intimation of danger. 



Dr. Fisher (1893b) says: "The flight is rather laborious, irregular, 

 and somewhat jerky, and is seldom of long duration. The bird rarely 

 rises high in the air, but passes noiselessly along the ground, and when 

 alighting drops very much after the manner of the woodcock." I 

 should hardly call the flight laborious or jerky; it seemed to me quite 

 strong and easy, and I was always impressed with the large expanse of 

 wing on such a small body. About its breeding grounds it makes 

 only short flights at low elevations from one perch to another, keeping 

 hardly more than a short gunshot range from the intruder. The fact 

 that it nests on several islands off the Pacific coast, and that it has 



