BURROWING OWL 1921 



The Indian brown hawk owl (N. lugubris), which measures twelve inches in 

 length, and is of a uniform glossy brown above, with a grayish tinge on the head, 

 is common in the wooded parts of India. Although generally nocturnal, it occa- 

 sionally issues forth before dark; its food is stated to be mainly insects, although it 

 will also eat small mammals and reptiles. 



The curious little burrowing owl (Speotito cunicularia) of America 



has a special interest on account of its habits, and accordingly de- 

 Owl 



mands a somewhat fuller notice. This bird is only some nine inches 



in length, and may be easily recognized by the length of its legs, of which a 

 considerable portion is bare, and its spotted plumage. It differs from the preceding 

 form by the length of the first primary quill, the interval between its tip and that 

 of the third feather of the same series being less than that of the metatarsus. The 

 whole wing is comparatively short, and has but little power of sustained flight. The 

 general color of the plumage is sandy brown, the head being marked with oval 

 splashes of buffish white, while all the back, wings, and tail are mottled and barred 

 with white or buff. The throat and the front of the neck are white, but most of the 

 remainder of the under surface creamy white, with transverse bars of sandy brown, 

 gradually becoming more and more indistinct toward the under tail coverts, where 

 they disappear. Although it has been considered that there are several distinct 

 species of burrowing owls, Dr. Sharpe is of opinion that only two can be distin- 

 guished, one of which ranges throughout the southern and western portions of the 

 United States and the whole of Central and South America; while the second 

 (S. guadelopensis} is confined to the West Indies. There are two great peculiarities 

 in the habits of the burrowing owl; firstly, that it is largely diurnal, and secondly, 

 that it always takes up its residence in underground burrows. Regarding its 

 diurnal habits in South America, Mr. W. H. Hudson writes that, " all day long, in 

 cold and in heat, it stands exposed at the mouth of its kennel, or on the viscacha's 

 mound, staring at the passer-by with an expression of grave surprise and reprehen- 

 sion in its round yellow eyes; male and female invariably together, standing stiff 

 and erect, almost touching of all birds that pair for life the most Darby-and-Joan- 

 like. ' ' In North America, where these owls are mainly confined to the prairie 

 regions, Captain Bendire writes that they "may be seen sitting in front of their 

 burrows at any hour of the day. When not unduly molested, they are not at all 

 shy, and usually allow one to approach them near enough to note their curious 

 antics. Their long slender legs give them rather a comical look, a sort of top-heavy 

 appearance, and they are proverbially polite, being sure to bow to you as you pass 

 by. Should you circle around them they will keep you constantly in view, and if 

 this is kept up, it sometimes seems as if they were in danger of twisting their heads 

 off in attempting to keep you in sight. If you venture too close, they will rise and 

 fly a short distance, and generally settle down near the mouth of another burrow 

 close by, uttering at the same time a chattering sort of note, and repeat the bowing 

 performance. Occasionally, when disturbed, they alight on a small sage bush, 

 probably to get a better view of the surroundings. ' ' 



In many parts of North America, the burrowing owl takes up its quarters in 

 the warrens of the prairie marmot ( Cynomys} , one pair of birds to a burrow; and it 



