574 ORNlTnOLOGY. 



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

 numerous on the dry plains near Sacramento, being- even found on the 

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

 tions wliicli were apparently tlie result of its own work, as no spermophiles 

 or other burrowing quadrupeds were noticed in the locality. Eastward of 

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

 about 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 Mountains, and a few were noticed in Fairview 

 Valley, while in the neighborhood of Salt Lake City it was more conmion. 



This Owl is as diurnal in its habits as any of the Falconidff!, being 

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

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

 Avhen bushes, banks of earth, or other screens are taken advantage of. 

 Sliould one be in its burrow, it will almost certainl}- ily forth at the most 

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

 able tlian its sight. When thus disturbed, this Owl flies to a safe distance, 

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

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

 tlien 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 

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

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

 and brought down ; he was captured with great difficult}^, aa he made for 

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

 o\crtakcn offered no resistance, merely snapping his bill a little. Having 

 him secured, we then proceeded to our task of excavating to the nest, whii'h 

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

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

 the ground. Before arriving at its extremity oiu- captive was released, 

 wlicn lie inmiediately disappeared into the hole; but wlien the end was 

 reaclie'd he, with his mate (the latter unharmed), was secured. In the 



