574 OKNITnOLOGY. 



along' our entire route, it n'us abundant at very few localities. It was most 

 numerous on the dry plains near Sacramento, bein<j even found on the 

 open commons in the outskirts of the city, where it occupied deep excava- 

 tions ■wliicli were apparently tlie result of its own work, as no spermoj)liiles 

 or other burrowing quadrupeds were noticed in the locality, l^astward of 

 the Sierra Nevada we found it only at wide intervals; it was rather rare 

 jibout Carson City, and in the vicinity of the Steamboat Springs, near 

 Washoe ; a single pair was seen on the mesa between the Humboldt River 

 and the West Humboldt jMountains, and a few were noticed in Fairview 

 A'alley, while in the neighborhood of Salt Lake City it was more counnon. 



This Owl is as diurnal in its habits as any of the Falconida^, being 

 habitually found abroad during the brightest hours of day; and its sight 

 is so remarkably acute that it is extremely diflicult to approach, even 

 when bushes, banks of earth, or other sci'eens are taken advantage of. 

 Should one be in its burrow, it will almost certainly fly forth at the most 

 noiseless approach of a person, for its sense of hearing is no less remark- 

 able than its sight. When thus disturbed, this Owl flics to a safe distance, 

 and after alighting upon some prominent object, as a hillock or a telegraph- 

 wire, watches attentively every motion of the intruder, while now and 

 then he scolds him with a saucy chattering, at the same time ludicrously 

 bowing. 



Near Carson City, we attempted, with the assistance of Mr. Parker, to 

 .excavate the burrow of a pair of these Owls. This burrow was situated in a 

 Avheat-field, and Avas guarded by the male bird, who sat at its entrance. As 

 we approached him he flew, but before getting out of range was winged 

 nnd brought down ; he was captured with great difficulty, as he made for 

 thi^, sage-brush fast as his extraordinary leaps could carry him, but when 

 overtaken offered no resistance, merely snapping his bill a little. Having 

 him secured, we then proceeded to our task of excavating to the nest, which 

 was accomplished after digging hard for nearly an hour. The hole termin- 

 ated about eight feet from the entrance and four beneath the surface of 

 the ground. Before arriving at its extremity our captive was I'elcased, 

 when he inunediately disappeared into the hole ; but when the end was 

 reached ho, with his mate (the latter unharmed), was secured. lu the 



