THE GREEN-RACER. 3 
Living near the water, but occasionally wan- 
dering amongst the grass, are quantities of bril- 
liant green snakes, the green-racer (Basca- 
nion vetustus, Baird & Grd.). Not only does 
it bask on the grassy banks, or if frightened glide 
through the herbage, with arrowlike rapidity, 
but climbs trees with the ease and rapidity of a 
squirrel. In pursuit of tree-frogs, its favourite 
food, the snakes so nearly resemble green succu- 
lent branches, that I have often put my hand on 
them when birds’-nesting or seeking for insects. 
It always startled me, though I constantly took 
* them in my hand, as I should a plant or a cater- 
pular, for examination. This snake’s general 
residence is in the hole of a ground-squirrel, 
which is also chosen as a nesting-place by the 
western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia). 
I dug out several squirrel-holes whilst at this 
camp ; in one I found two eggs of the burrowing 
owl, the female owl, a racer-snake, and an old 
lady-squirrel. The burrowing owl is strictly of 
diurnal habits, and feeds principally on crickets, 
grasshoppers, large beetles, and larve. I do not 
think it ever captures small animals or birds; a 
peaceful harmless bird, with little to boast of in 
appearance, voice, or wisdom. Why called Athene 
it would be hard to find out. Not by any means 
B2 
