NOTES ON THE ANATOMY OF SPEZOTYTO 
CUNICULARIA HYPOGAEA. 
R. W. SHUFELDT, M.D., C.M.Z.S. 
Amone my alcoholic birds that I collected in Arizona and 
New Mexico, during the years of 1884 to 1888 inclusive, I find 
two very fine specimens of the Burrowing or Prairie Owl (Spe- 
otyto), and, as there are certain parts of the anatomy of this re- 
markable species, so far as the writer is aware, which have not 
as yet received the attention of the ornithotomist, it will be my 
aim in the present contribution to offer a few remarks upon the 
subject. Naturalists are quite familiar with the two species 
of this owl and their geographical ranges ; their habits and nidi- 
fication ; and something of their external or topographical anat- 
omy; so these chapters in their life-history need nothing from 
me here. 
TuE PTERYLOGRAPHY. 
Upon plucking a specimen of speotyto, we find that it pos- 
sesses fwenty-five remiges, and fwelve rectrices. These numbers, 
it would seem, agree with the majority of the S¢riges ; but in 
the remainder of its pterylography, Speotyto exhibits some 
marked departures from the patterns laid down for this order 
by so eminent an authority in such matters as Nitzsch.! The 
Burrowing Owl, however, agrees in possessing feathers without 
an aftershaft, and a tuftless oil-gland, points which essentially 
distinguish this group pterylographically. Differing from both 
Strix bubo and Hybris flamea, as drawn by Nitzsch, Speotyto has 
its head completely feathered, crown, occiput, sides and throat ; 
and, furthermore, the anterior and posterior cervical tracts are 
notably broad, which is contrary to the rule in these nocturnal 
rapacious birds, according to the writer just quoted (see Figs. 
1 and 2 of the Plate). About the middle of the neck, the ante- 
rior cervical tract bifurcates, each bifurcation passing down to 
1 Prerylography, Nitzsch, C. L. (Dr. Sclater’s translation; Ray Society edition, 
Lond. 1867). pp. 67-71, Taf. II., Figs. 8-11. 
