BIRDS OF PREY. 185 



" Living near the water, but occasionally wandering amongst the 

 grass, are quantities of brilliant green snakes, the green racer. . . . 

 Not only does it bask on the grassy banks, or if frightened glide 

 through the herbage with arrow-like rapidity, but climbs trees with 

 the ease and rapidity of a squirrel. In pursuit of tree-frogs, its favor- 

 ite food, the snakes so nearly resemble green succulent branches that 

 I have often put my hand on them when birds'-nesting or seeking 

 for insects. It always startled me, though I constantly took them in 

 my hand as I should a plant or a caterpillar for examination. This 

 snake's general residence is in the hole of a ground-squirrel, which 

 is also chosen as a nesting-place by the Western burrowing-owl. 



" I dug out several squirrel-holes whilst at this camp ; in one I 

 found two eggs of the burrowing-owl, the female owl, a racer-snake, 

 and an old lady-squirrel. The burrowing-owl is strictly of diurnal 

 habits, and feeds principally on crickets, grasshoppers, large beetles, 

 and larvae. I do not think it ever captures small animals or birds ; a 

 peaceful, harmless bird, with little to boast of in appearance, voice, 

 or wisdom." 



The Pygmy-owl is the smallest of the race, and 

 found only on the Pacific coast. Lord's account is, 

 in part, as follows : 



" Their flight short, quick, and jerking, similar to that of the 

 sparrow-hawk is quite unlike the muffled, noiseless flap of the night- 

 owl, as it sails along over marsh and meadow in pursuit of mice, 

 lizards, or any benighted rodent that has incautiously strayed from 

 its place of safety. The food of this little owl is entirely insectivor- 

 ous, its favorite morsel a fat grasshopper or field-cricket : not that it 

 by any means refuses or objects to breakfast on an early riser, be it 

 beetle or butterfly. . . . 



" When in pursuit of food the owls perch on a small branch near 

 the ground, sit bolt upright in an indolent, drowsy manner until their 

 quick eye detects an insect moving on the plain ; then they pounce 

 suddenly upon it, hold it down with their small but powerful claws, 

 and with their sharp beaks tear the captive to pieces. . . . Hunger 

 satiated, they return to their tree, and, cuddling lovingly together, sit 

 and doze away their time, protected from the blazing rays of the 

 mid-day sun by the foliage of the sturdy oak. . . . 

 16* 



