696 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 



Athene hypugwa, Bouap., (prairie-owl :) 



JIah. — Prairies aud other open portions of the United States, from the 

 Mississippi to tlie Pacific. 



These little owls were very plentiful on the great plains and prairies, 

 between Omaha and the Black Hills. There they live and breed in the de- 

 serted holes of the prairie-dogs, {Gynomys ludovidanus.) They were 

 also quite numerous in the Salt Lake Valley and northward to Snake 

 Eiver ; here they take up their abodes in the old holes of the badger 

 {Taxidea afnericana, Waterh.) and coyote, {Canis latrans, Say.) They 

 breed in May, laying pure-white eggs. 



Surnia idula, Bonap., (hawk-owl:) 



j^al). — Northern regions of both continents. 



This specimen of the hawk-owl is the only one seen. . I shot it in 

 broad daylight as it flew past me and lit on a dead i^ine tree. 



Family 41. — FALCONiDiE, Diurnal Birds of Prey. 

 (Sub-family Falconinw, the Falcons.) 

 Tinnunculus sparverius, Vieill., (sparrow-hawk :) 



Eah. — The entire continent of America. 



Sparrow hawks were quite numerous at the Xorth Fork, Teton Basin, 

 and on Snake Eiver, east of the Teton Eange. 



