OWLS. 169 



new companion might live on friendly terms; but no 

 sooner were they left to themselves, than the Hawk fell 

 upon the Owl, and a furious battle began. But the 

 Owl, so far from showing fear, defended itself most 

 gallantly. He threw himself on his back, and awaited 

 the charge of his enemy with patience and preparation, 

 and by dint of fighting and scratching, preserved him- 

 self from injury. As long as they remained together, 

 these battles were frequently repeated, and further ac- 

 quaintanceship did not seem likely to ripen into friend- 

 ship. Whether they wonld in the end have come to 

 better terms, cannot be known, as, after a time, the 

 Owl's wing having gained strength, it took advantage of 

 of a favourable opportunity, and contrived to escape, 

 leaving the Hawk in full possession of their joint prison. 



One other species of Owl only shall we notice, which 

 has a very different way of living and lodging, from those 

 already alluded to. It is called the Burrowing Owl 

 (Striz cunicularia). It is widely spread over the Ameri- 

 can continent, both North and South, though only to be 

 met with in particular parts of each, where circumstances 

 combine to make its residence convenient. It gets its 

 name of Burrowing Owl, from the singular retreat it 

 invariably prefers. Other birds of this family resort to 

 solitary recesses in woods and forests, or ruined buildings, 

 but this delights to dwell in open plains, in company with 

 animals remarkable for their social disposition. 



Lucien Buonaparte, the brother of Napoleon, who for 

 many years lived in North America, and became a cele- 

 brated naturalist, thus speaks of it : " Instead of sailing 

 heavily forth in the obscurity of the evening or morning 

 twilight, and then retreating to its abode, this bird enjoys 

 the broadest glare of the noon-day sun, and flying rapidly 

 along, searches for food or pleasure, during the cheerful 

 light of the day ; and then returns to its underground 

 dwelling, which consists of the burrows of the marmot, 

 or prairie-dog, an animal abounding on the vast plains 

 of the western part of the United States. These bur- 



