BURROWING OWL. 193 



This species is strictly crepuscular and iliiuiial. and it possesses as 

 keen vision and acute hearinn' as any of the Hawks. It is frequently iu 

 motion on the brighest days, capturing its prey or evading its pursuer 

 with the greatest ease. Except in the breeding season it probably 

 feeds more in early twilight than at other times. In many localities it 

 is nearly impossible to approach within gun range, even where there is 

 more or less shrubbery to conceal the collector, the noise which is neces- 

 sarily made being sufficient to warn the bird of its danger. On tlie pam- 

 pas iu South America, according to W. B. Barrows (Standard Natural 

 History), it is more nocturnal and does not feed or even move around 

 much during the day. It generally remained a short distance inside 

 the entrance of its burrow or sat on some low bush or mound. Neither 

 was it difficult to approach iu the daytime nor would it Hy unless the iu- 

 truder passed in close proximity. In the evening it was much more wary 

 and would fly at the slightest noise, at the same time repeating its alarm 

 note, which also warned the viscachas of danger. Tlie alarm note, or 

 note of rage, is a rattling, hissing sound which, according to Capt. Ben- 

 dire, closely resembles that made by the rattlesnake. 



The love notes of this Owl are peculiar and do not resemble those of 

 any other species. They are produced iu early twilight, not while the 

 bird is on the wing but while it sits near the hole, and are repeated 

 rather regularly for an hour or more. 



Nathaniel H. Bishop likens the note to the sound produced by a frog; 

 Dr. Coues states that the notes are curiously similar to those of the 

 cuckoo, so much so that more thau one observer has been deceived; and 

 Capt. Bendire says they resemble those of the European cuckoo. The 

 first observation refers to the South American species, while the last 

 two are based on notes from the Western plains, which may account 

 iu i^art for the different interpretation of the sound. 



The tlight is rather laborious, irregular, and somewhat jerky, and is 

 seldom of long duration. Tlie bird rarely rises high in the air, but 

 passes noiselessly along the ground, and when alighting drops very 

 much after the manner of the woodcock. As a rule, when approached, 

 instead ol" diving into and retreating to the far end of the burrow, 

 it takes wing to some neighboring mound, from which it will watch 

 the intruder. If wounded, it will scramble into a hole, from which 

 it is difficult to retrieve. If ai^proached gradually, and when at some 

 distance, it will go through a series of curious and ludicrous antics. 

 Its actions suggest those of a yo\ing chick which stands for the tirst 

 time before a brother combatant. It will make a low and profound bow, 

 so that the throat nearly touches the ground; then it stands motionless 

 bolt uiiright for a mouu'ut, with head thrown forward ; then come a 

 series of side movements of the head, interspersed with bowing and nod- 

 ding, with now and then a complete facing to one side or the other. 

 The peculiar combinaticui of long legs, short tail, and round, compact 

 head adds considerably to the grotesqueuess of the pantomime. 

 702G— No. 3 13 



