34 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Yol. 14-No. n 



not at all owl-like in its tone. As their render- 

 ing of the voices of all the birds that I knew 

 was remarkably correct, I have no doubt that 

 they were equally true to nature in imitating 

 this one. 



Where the Burrowing Owls go to, after the 

 breeding season is over and the young birds 

 able to fly, seems to be an unsolved problem. 

 The " cow boys " did not seem to know of any 

 such exodus, and when I talked with them 

 about it, suggested "the scrub," or the "big 

 saw grass." The Indians only said that they 

 were away, and offered no explanation. 

 N^either did the phenomenon find any place in 

 their numerous and interesting bird myths and 

 fables. My own opinion is that they are in the 

 fall more arboreal, and perhaps, also, more 

 nocturnal in their habits, and seek the wooded 

 "islands" in the prairie and the swamps along 

 the edges of the streams. 



The burrows are found either in the very 

 higliest parts of the prairie, or in the thickest 

 vegetation, but occupy a peculiar sort of sandy 

 flat ground, which, however, is covered with a 

 good tough turf. They are about five inches 

 wide, and three and a half high, and extend 

 underground on the average less than six feet. 

 A few I found were eight feet and over. Only 

 one was less than four feet. The superincum- 

 bent soil is from eight inches to a foot thick, 

 and the chamber at the extremity, in which the 

 nest is placed, is quite circular, and not less 

 than a foot in diameter. It is higher than the 

 passage-way leading to it, and being likewise 

 slightly domed, it brings the top quite near the 

 surface of the ground. It is this part of the 

 habitation which is most often caved in by the 

 feet of passing cattle. 



The sand that is thrown out at the mouth of 

 the hole makes quite a conspicuous mound in 

 the open prairie, but in the "roughs." or those 

 places that have not been burnt over for some 

 years, the weeds and grass are rich and rank 

 about it, being doubtless fertilized by the 

 dropping and castings of the inhabitants. This 

 hides the burrow pretty effectually from the 

 casuil observer, but, after a little experience, 

 these circular patches of richer vegetation were 

 quite a valuable guide in my search. 



I found no very large towns, the usual num- 

 ber of burrows being five or six. The largest 

 number found together was eleven, and the 

 smallest three. The holes open to all points 

 of the compass, although one of the oldest set- 

 tlers in the region assured me that tliey always 

 extended south underground. They seldom 

 make much of a turn. A moderately supple 



stick generally accommodates itself to any 

 slight bends and reaches their end. When one 

 hole was found, I always looked for others 

 within at least a rod, and occasionally they 

 were not more than a yard' apart. 



Walter Iloxie. 



The Blackburnian Warbler at Home. 



Having ever admired the lovely little crea- 

 ture — the subject of my sketch — and never 

 having become acquainted with him, save as a 

 transient visitor, when he rested for a time on 

 his long journeys, it was with keen delight that 

 I followed him on his home-going in the spring 

 of 1887. 



Often have I watched these charming birds, 

 as they moved about quietly among the foliage 

 in search of food; but very little of their real 

 nature did they disclose to me ; never a note 

 nor a chirp; silent and satisfied they soon 

 hurried on. 



Occasionally they are ovei-taken by a sudden 

 cold snap, and then their plight is pitiable. 



Once while traveling in northern Iowa, during 

 the month of April, a bitter cold spell of 

 weather came quickly upon the track of a 

 warm bright time, and I remember that in the 

 town of Clarion many small birds had drifted 

 into the more sheltered localities to escape the 

 biting blast that had met them while crossing 

 those treeless prairies. Among them was a little 

 Blackburnian Warbler, .so chilled that it did 

 not object to being held in my warm hand. 

 Perhaps it blessed me for the kindness; at any 

 rate, I know that nothing in that eventful col- 

 lecting tour gave me greater pleasure. 



The first time I saw this species was upon a 

 fine spring morning at the old home near New- 

 ton, Iowa, when a small flock o* male Black- 

 burnians, with some Black - throated Green 

 Warblers, spent a forenoon among the ever- 

 greens and shrubberj' in my father's yard. 



They were very tame, permitting my sister 

 and myself to approach within a few feet of 

 them, where we watched their movements for 

 a long time, charmed by their brilliant garb 

 and dainty actions as they flitted here and 

 there among the new leaves or the bloom-laden 

 plum trees. Little did I then hope to see them 

 in glad abandon, where tangled spruce and 

 hemlock marches — which abound in the 

 wooded lake region of northern Minnesota — 

 offer them a perfect home. During May and 

 early June the males were in constant song. 

 Perched upon a dry and broken branch of some 



