[84 Bird -Lore 



SUGGESTIONS 



Visit a museum, if possible, and look up the birds of the different orders, noting size, 

 shape of bills, wings and feet, and general coloration of plumage. Look also for the 

 nest and eggs, observing size, shape, color and number of latter. 



INIount and hang up in the schoolroom colored pictures of the birds mentioned irk 

 the table, and as many more as may be practicable. 



Draw the bills and feet of the different types represented in the orders given, using 

 Chapman and Reed's "Color Key to North American Birds" as a guide. 



For the story of the Great Auk, see "Lost and Vanishing Birds," by Charles Dixon; 

 the Flamingo, Pelicans, etc., "Camps and Cruises of an Ornithologist," F. M. Chapman; 

 the Passenger Pigeon, Downy Woodpecker, etc., "American Ornithology," Wilson 

 and Bonaparte; Gulls and Terns, Reports of the Committee on the Protection of North 

 American Birds, also those of The National Association of Audubon Societies, in 'The 

 Auk' and Bird-Loee. — A. H. W. 



FROM YOUNG OBSERVERS 



An Albinic Burrowing Owl 



On November 28, while I was walking alone about three miles from home, 

 near a series of rock ledges, I heard a very unfamiliar song, which seemed to 

 come out of the rock. Walking up cautiously, I tapped the rock lightly. 

 There silently flew from under it an Owl, which lit fearlessly on the ground, 

 comparatively near. Being afraid of frightening the bird by nearer approach, 

 I drew the accompanying picture from my situation. The note was about the 

 same as that of other Burrowing Owls, although the body was more violently 

 moved, as the Ki-ca-rak was uttered. Some boys, afterward going by, also 

 frightened the bird out, shot it and gave it to me. It was nearly white (very 

 light cream), with only five noticeable brown spots. No other difference in 

 its plumage was perceptible. Several balls were found near its abode, which 

 consisted entirely of hard portions of large beetles. — George Sutton (age 

 13), Fort Worth, Texas. 



[The pencil-sketch made by the observer, represents the Owl standing upright by 

 a rock, full face to the front. It is seldom that any bird remains quiet long enough 

 to have its picture drawn, even hastily, but it is worth while to try sketching living 

 birds, in order to remember their characteristic attitudes more clearly. The Owl above 

 described is a subspecies of a type species which is confined to South America. Highly 

 beneficial in its food-habits, this interesting creature selects the disused burrow of some 

 small mammal, a ground squirrel, prairie dog, woodchuck, fox, wolf, or the like, or of 

 a land tortoise or large lizard, as a retreat and nesting-abode. For this reason, strange 

 stories have been told about the remarkable relationship that is said to exist between 

 the Burrowing Owl, the prairie dog and the rattlesnake. The truth is, that the rattle- 

 snake eats the eggs and young of the Owl, the Owl in return, may eat the young snakes, 

 and fiercely attack adults of various large species besides devouring with relish the 

 young of the prairie dog, while the latter may also destroy the eggs of the Owl. Thus 

 this strangely assorted trio, enemies each to the other by nature, are drawn together only 

 by their peculiar habits. For a detailed description of the Burrowing Owl, see "Hawks 



