126 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



as she entered the niche. The male, her mate, on the follow- 

 ing night entered it, uttering his peculiar call-note; an owl soon 

 approached, he gave chase, they flew about for some time, and on 

 the next night they were, to all appearance, mated. Had the male 

 been killed instead of the female, this sudden marriage, and particu- 

 larly her continuance at the old nesting-place, would seem less sur- 

 prising. This species has two very distinct vocal utterances, — one a 

 ' call-note,' a sort of low, rapid chattering or clacking, uttered, so far 

 as I have observed, when perched ; the other a monosyllabic note, 

 which I would spell ' creech,' uttered in a harsh half-scream, while 

 on the wing, the intervals being very long." 



Its food consists of mice and other small c|uadrupeds, and accord- 

 ing to some writers, small birds. 



The inhabitants of some of the islands claim that a large, /i///'^ 

 zuhitc owl is sometimes seen ; but in all probability it is the present 

 species, which they have seen flying about in the dim light of the 

 evening. 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. I. pi. 34. 



SPHEOTYTO CUMCCLARIA VAR. FLORIDANA. {^M.) Rufg. 

 Florida Burrowing Owl. 



Adult Male. — General plumage, dark drown, mottled with wliite; 

 under parts, paler; feathers barred with brown and white, shading 

 into pale tawny near the vent ; primaries, reddish brown, blotched 



