196 BURROWING OWL. 



which always distinguishes the area of these villages. SometiiLes several 

 villages have been observed almost entirely destitute of vegetation, and 

 recollecting that the Marmot feeds exclusively on grasses and herba- 

 ceous plants, it seems singular that this animal should always choose the 

 most barren spot for the place of his abode. However this may be 

 accounted for, it at least affords an opportunity of beholding the 

 approach of his enemies, and allows him to seek, within the bosom of 

 the earth, that security which he has neither strength nor arms to 

 command. 



In all these Prairie Dog villages the Burrowing Owl is seen moving 

 briskly about, or else in small flocks scattered among the mounds, and 

 at a distance it may be mistaken for the Marmot itself, when sitting 

 erect. They manifest but little timidity, and allow themselves to be 

 approached sufficiently close for shooting; but if alarmed, some or all 

 of them soar away, and settle down again at a short distance ; if further 

 disturbed, their flight is continued until they are no longer in view, or 

 they descend into their dw^ellings, whence they are difficult to dislodge. 



The burrows into which these Owls have been seen to descend, on the 

 plains of the river Platte, where they are most numerous, were evidently 

 excavated by the Marmot, whence it has been inferred by Say, that 

 they were either common, though unfriendly residents of the same habi- 

 tation, or that our Owl w^as the sole occupant of a burrow acquired by 

 the right of conquest. The evidence of this was clearly presented by 

 the ruinous condition of the burrows tenanted by the Owl, which were 

 frequently caved in, and their sides channelled by the rains, while the 

 neat and well preserved mansion of the Marmot showed the active care 

 of a skilful and industrious owner. We have no evidence that the Owl 

 and Marmot habitually resort to one burrow ; yet we are well assured 

 by Pike, and others, that a common danger often drives them into the 

 same excavation, where lizards and rattlesnakes also enter for conceal- 

 ment and safety. 



The Owl observed by Yieillot in St. Domingo digs itself a burrow 

 two feet in depth, at the bottom of which its eggs are deposited on a 

 bed of moss, herb-stalks, and dried roots. These eggs are two in num- 

 ber, of a very pure -white, nearly spheroidal, and about as large as those 

 of the Dove. When the young are only covered with down, they fre- 

 quently ascend to the entrance to enjoy the warmth of the sun, but as 

 soon as they are approached, they quickly retire into the burrow. 



The note of our bird is strikingly similar to the cry of the Marmot, 

 which sounds like cheh, cheh^ pronounced several times in rapid succes- 

 sion ; and were it not that the Burrowing OavIs of the West Indies, 

 where no Marmots exist, utter the same sound, it might be inferred, 

 that the Marmot was the unintentional tutor to the young Owl : this 

 cry is only uttered as the bird begins its flight. Vieillot states that the 



