314 ZOOLOGY. 



the size of the common bluebird, and preys almost entirely upon insects. 

 The most remarkable species of North America, and one of the most 

 curious birds of this family, is the Burrowing Owl (A. hypugea), inhabiting 

 western America, which lives in a hole in the ground, instead of taking up 

 its abode in a hollow tree like the others of these birds. It is said to make 

 an excavation occasionally for itself, but more commonly takes possession 

 of one already finished by the prairie dog {Arctomys ludoviciana) , in which 

 it makes its nest and rears its young. One of the most singular features in 

 the history of this bird is that it inhabits a hole frequently in the midst of 

 a larcre village or settlement of these animals, with which it appears to live 

 in perfect harmony. This remark applies, however, also to various kinds 

 of rattlesnakes, which have a partiality for the villages and comfortable 

 quarters of the prairie dog, and both have been suspected of a liking for 

 the young of their entertainers. Travellers disagree, however,. upon this 

 point, so that it remains unsettled whether the owls and rattlesnakes most 

 relish the good fare or the pleasant society of their hosts. The burrowing 

 owl is strictly diurnal, and devours grasshoppers and other insects, and 

 small quadrupeds ; according to the Indians, it retires to the depths of its 

 burrow in autumn, and spends the winter in a state bordering on torpidity. 



Australia produces several species of this genus which are remarkable 

 for their large size, though in all other respects they are very similar to the 

 minute owls above alluded to. 



Two large species, constituting the genus Ciccaha, are classed in this 

 sub-family, one of which, C. personata, in young plumage has a black space 

 around each eye, presenting the appearance of a pair of spectacles, on 

 account of which it has acquired the name of the spectacled owl. 



Sub-fam. 4. SurnincB, or Hawk Owls. Head comparatively small, with 

 the facial disk imperfect ; eyes small, deeply sunk in the head. Wings 

 long ; tarsi short and densely feathered ; claws strong. Diurnal. 



Two species only are included in this sub-family, both of which ai'e 

 almost restricted to the Arctic regions, visiting only the northern parts of 

 the temperate zone, in both continents, during the winter. They are the 

 great snow owl {Nyctea nivea) and the hawk owl {Surnia ulula). 



The former is a large species, distinguished for its plumage of beautiful 

 snowy whiteness. Its tarsi and feet are so thickly clothed with plumes 

 that they often entirely conceal the toes, and when the bird is sitting at 

 rest frequently nothing but the black tips of its claws is visible. The 

 eyes, which are very large, are of a beautiful gamboge yellow, which con- 

 trasts advantageously with its white plumage. This magnificent bird is 

 abundant in the extreme northern regions yet attained to by voyagers, and 

 frequently visits in winter the northern countries of both continents, but 

 appears to be the more plentiful in North America. It is often shot in the 

 neighborhood of Philadelphia during some winters, and those, too, are 

 frequently such winters as are remarkable for their mildness ; however, 

 more or less numerous specimens find their way to city markets every 

 winter, and it probably wanders occasionally to the southern limits of 

 the United States. 

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