176 LAND BIRDS 
of truth in them. The owls hunt among the burrows 
for young mammals, and the offspring of the “dogs” are 
doubtless a choice tidbit ; the snakes crawl from hole to 
hole for the same purpose, but include owl eggs and 
nestlings in their menu. So far as I have been able to 
observe, the “dogs” are in terror from both, but the 
5 
378. BuRROWING OWL. 
** They converse in soft love noles.”’ 
sudden advent of a human intruder causes the three 
enemies to pop suddenly down the same hole with 
surprising unanimity. 
Usually one may find the Owls sitting at the doorway 
of their own nest-burrow, which may be the excavation 
of some badger or prairie dog whose claim they have 
“jumped.” If the young Owls are old enough, they will 
be there also in the family circle, but at sight of a 
