438 



PREYING BIUDS — RAPTORES. 



disli-wliite feathers across the ncok in front, siioceefled by a hirge patch of ivliitc. Breast 

 Hght brown with large spots of white as above ; abdomen yellowisli-wbite, witli liastate or 

 crescentic spots of rechlish-brown, in transverse bands. Under tail coverts, tibia', tai'si, 

 and under wing coverts yellowish-white : (luills and tail light brown, with spots of reddish- 

 white, which are edged with bi-owni»li-black. Tail with about six transverse bands, or 



.4. ntnicidnrm. 



pairs of spots, of reddish-white edged witli dark brown. (3ther sjiecimens arc nuieh 

 lighter and tinged with dull yellow, having a failed appearance. 



Younger. Above with light grayish-brown spots irregular in shape and confused ; fre- 

 quently predominating on head. Abdomen yellowish-white, nearly imspotted. Length, 

 9.50 to 10.00; extent, 23.50 to 25.00; wing, G. 75 to 7.75; tail, 3.50 to 4.00. Iris yel- 

 low ; bill horn-color ; toes gray. 



Hab. North America west of the Rocky Mountains ; South America (Peru, Chili, 

 Buenos Ayres, etc.). 



Probably one of tlie most common birds in California, and known to 

 almost everybody, as they are visible at all times of the day, and not timid. 

 Wlierever the large gronnd-squirrel {Spermophilus Bccchci/i) is found, — and 

 that is in almost every valley west of the Sierra, — this owl is its constant 

 comjianion, lixing in the deserted burrows of the sciuirrels, and apparently 

 in perfect liarniony with them, although tlie young squirrels dotibtless oc- 

 casionally ftirnisli the owl with a meal, for which tlie sqtiirrel perhaps takes 

 its pay by sucking the owl's eggs, after tlie manner of its relative, the rat. 



The owl, however, undoubtedly burrows for itself in regions where there 

 are no squirrels large enough to make burrows for it. I foimd one li^■ing 

 near the Colorado, in a burrow which it had apparently just made, as tliere 



Note. — Specimens obtained liy Mr. Hepburn, near Mariposa, and one from Vancouver 

 Island, closely resemble A. Iii/i»tgwa. 



