THE BURROWING OWL. 397 



believe the same conditions hold good west of these mountains, where the win- 

 ter climate is much milder in corresponding latitudes. In Washington, Idaho, 

 and Oregon, they appear to migrate about the beginning of November and 

 sometimes earlier, returning to their summer homes in the early part of March. 

 At any rate, without actually examining any of their burrows during the winter 

 months, to ascertain their presence, I never saw one of these birds, as far as I 

 can remember, sitting in front of these at such times, and I have lived where 

 they were very common and would certainly have noticed one occasionally if 

 actually about. The belief that these Owls migrate regularly seems to be con- 

 firmed by the observations made by Dr. James C. Merrill, U. S. Army, in the 

 vicinity of Brownsville, Texas, who, in his "Notes on the Ornithology of 

 Southern Texas," makes the following statement: 1 "The Burrowing Owl is 

 rather abundant during the winter months, but I do not think that any remain 

 to breed." The fact that Mr. George B. Seunett, who collected in the same 

 region for several seasons, failed to detect this Owl during the breeding 

 season tends still more to confirm that they are only winter visitors, and 

 consequently migrants from the North. Dr. Merrill tells me that even as 

 far south as Fort Reno, Indian Territory, he failed to notice any of these 

 birds during the winter, although common enough at all other seasons. 

 That they hybernate, as some observers suppose, I do not believe for an 

 instant. 



In the vicinity of Fort Walla Walla, Washington, and Fort Lapwai, Idaho, 

 they usually made their appearance in the first week of March, about the same 

 time the earliest migrants arrived, and by the middle of the month they were 

 abundant. 



These birds are diurnal in their habits, and may be seen sitting in 

 front of their burrows at any hour of the day. Where 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 shoi't 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 perform- 

 ance. Occasionally, when disturbed, they alight on a small sage bush, prob- 

 ably to get a better view of the surroundings. 



They hunt their prey mostly in the early evening and throughout the night, 

 more rarely during the daytime. As soon as the sun goes down they become 

 exceedingly active, and especially so during the breeding season. At such times 

 they are always busy hunting food, and go and come constantly, and they 

 may often be seen hovering suspended in the air like the Sparrow Hawk, 



1 Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. I, 1878, p. 151. 



