ZOOLOGY. 157 



with small spots of white on their outer edges, and large spots of the same on their inner webs ; tail brown, every feather 

 with about three pairs of spots of white ; bill and claws dark ; irides yellow. 



Total length about 7J to 8 inches; wing, 5J inches ; tail, 2| to 3 inches ; sexes nearly the same size and alike in colors. 



Easily distinguished from the other little owls without ear tufts by the few white spots on its tail feathers, (about three 

 pairs on each.) It is the smallest owl of the eastern States, but larger than one other western species. 



At Vancouver, February 3, 1854, I found one dead and lying on a log in the woods. I could 

 find no cause for its death, unless it was from starvation, it being extremely emaciated and its 

 stomach empty. The weather being the coldest known there for many years, and the ground 

 covered with snow, there were not many birds about, and mice must have been difficult to 

 obtain. C. 



A fine specimen of this little owl I obtained at the Dalles on the Columbia, on the north .side, 

 in December, 1853. It Avas several miles from the timbered region, and I suppose lived in the 

 basaltic cliffs of the vicinity. 



Sub- Family ATHENINAE. T he Bird Owls. 



ATHENE HYPUG J ]A, Bonaparte. 



The Burrowing Owl. 



Strix cunicularia, BONAP. Am. Orn. I, p. 68, (hypugcea, in a note on p. 72,) (1825 ) 

 Athene sodalis, GAMBEL, Proc. Acad. Philada. Ill, p. 47, (18-16.) 

 Athene hypugcea, BONAP. Consp. An. p. 39. 



Athene hypugcea, (BONAP.) BAIRD & CASSIN, Gen. Eep. Birds, p. 59. 



FIGURES. Bonap. Am. Orn. I, pi. 7, fig. 2 ; Aud. B. of Am. pi. 432, fig. 1 : oct. ed. I, p. 31, (upper figure.) 

 SP. Cu. Above light ashy brown, with numerous partly-concealed white spots. Throat white ; a collar of dark brown 

 and white below this ; then a large white patch ; lower parts pale brown or yellow ; quills much spotted ; tail with five or 

 six bands of yellowish Avhite. 



Varying in general tint from very pale to light reddish brown ; the pale plumage very common, and having a faded 

 appearance. 



No. 8767, (140,) 35 miles west of Fort Kearney, August 3, 1857. Length, 9 ; extent, 23. 50 ; wing, 6 inches. Iris, bright 

 yellow ; bill, grayish. 



This specimen is from the most eastern locality where this bird has been observed. I saw 

 it there in great numbers on the plains of Nebraska, and did not observe any difference in 

 habits between this and the bird of Calafornia. C. 



I shot a specimen of this owl at the mouth of a &quot;prairie dog s&quot; hole, near Fort Benton, 



Nebraska. S. 



ATHENE CUNICULAPJA, Bonaparte. 



Western Burrowing Owl 



Strix cunicularia, MOLINA, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, (1782.) 



Strix calfornica, AUD. B. of Am. pi. 432, fig. 2, (name on plate.) 



Athene patagonica, PEALE, Zool. U. S. Ex. Exp. Vincennes, Birds, p. 78, (1848.) 



Athene cunicularia, BOXAP. Eur. and N. Am. Birds, p. 6. 



Athene cunicularia, (MoL.,) BAIRD & CASSIN, Gen. Bep. Birds, p. 60. 

 FIGURES Aud. B. of Am. pi. 432, fig. 2 : oct. ed. I, pi. 31, (lower figure.) 



SP. Cu. Distinguished from the burrowing owl of the plains east of the Rocky mountains chiefly by its larger size, more 

 full feathering of the tarsus, and longer legs. 

 No. 5896, Santa Clara, Cal., November 5, 1855. 



