ACCirniiES: DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 



617 



488 



tarsus 1.50-1.75; middle 

 Youiiii: difier in much less 



shafted. Under parts white or pale ochrey, the breast, belly, and sides barred with transverse 

 spots of brown, in a pretty regular manner ; legs and under tail-coverts unmarked. Lining of 

 wings tawuy-white, dusky-spotted on the primary coverts. Sexes indistinguishable in size or 

 color: length 9.50; extent 23.00; wing 0.50-7.00; taU 3.00-3.25 

 toe without claw 0. SO; chord of culmcn without cere 0.50-0. (iO. 

 spotting, or even uniform- 

 ity, of the body above, 

 ;uid whitish under parts, 

 excepting the jugular col- 

 lar; wing- and tail-coverts 

 largely white. A remark- 

 able owl, abounding in suit- 

 able places in Western N 

 Am., from the Plains to 

 the Pacific, in the treolo^- 

 regions inhabited by tin 

 " prairie dogs," (Cynomi/ 

 ludovicianus and C. gunni- 

 soni) and other burrowini: 

 rodents, especially Spermo- 



2)hilus richardsoni in the _ 



north and S. heecheili in Fig. 361.— Burrowing Owl, reduced. (Sbeppard del. Nichols so.) 



California. I have foimd colonies in Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Dakota, Montana N. to 

 49°, Colorado, New Mexico and California, in all cases occupying the deserted burrows of 

 the quadrupeds, not living in common with them as usually supposed. They also occupy the 

 holes made by badgers and foxes. The eggs may be laid even 6 or 8 feet from the entrance of 

 the burrow; they appear to vary in number up to 10; are white, subspherical, 1.30 X 1.10. 

 The species has exceptionally occurred in Massachusetts. Its food is chiefly insects and small 

 reptiles, birds and quadrupeds being apparently rarely taken. Wherever found, the species is 

 resident, being able to endure extremely cold weather. 



S. c. florid'ana. (Of Florida. Fig. 360.) Florida Burrowing Owl. Like the last; 

 rather smaller; wing 6.00-6.50; tail scarcely 3.00; shanks more extensively denuded, only 

 feathered about half way down in front ; feet and bill relatively longer. Upper parts darker, 

 rather bistre-brown, more profusely and confusedly spotted with smaller and whiter marks ; 

 under parts more heavily and regularly barred with darker brown. Florida, an isolated local 

 race, colonies of which are common in some places. 



7. Suborder ACCIPITRES: Diurnal Birds of Prev. 



This large group, comprising the large majority of the order Raptores, may be most 

 readily defined by exclusion of the particular characters of the other suborders. There is 

 nothing of the grallatorial analogy shown by the singular Gijpogeranides. The nostrils are 

 not completely pervious, nor is the hallux elevated, as in Cathartides; while other peculiarities 

 of the American vultures are wanting. Comparing Accipitres with Striges, we miss tlie peculiar 

 physiognomy of owLs, the eyes looking laterally as in ordinary birds, and the facial disc being 

 absent (rudimentary in Cireince) ; aftershafts are usually present, and the outer toe is not versa- 

 tile nor shorter than the inner one (exc. Pandionidce). The external ears are moderate and 

 non-operculate. The eye is usually sunken beneath a much projecting superciliary shield, 

 conferring a decided and threatening gaze. The bill shows the raptorial type perfectly, and is 

 always provided with a cere in which (not at its edge as in most owls) the nostrils open ; the 



