180 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



377a. American Hawk Owl. Surnia ulula caparoch. 



Range. Northern North America, breeding from the central portions of British 

 America, northward; probably also breeds in the Rocky Mountains in the north- 

 ern tier of states and casually farther. 



This handsome mottled and barred, gray and 

 black owl might readily be mistaken for a Hawk, 

 because of his Hawk-like appearance and long 

 rounded tails. They are very active birds, especial- 

 ly in the day time, for they are more diurnal than 

 nocturnal; their food is mostly of small rodents, 

 and also small birds. They nest either in the tops 

 of large fir trees, in hollows of stumps, or, in some 

 cases, upon the ground. When in trees their nests 

 are made of twigs, leaves and weeds, and sometimes 

 lined with moss and feathers; they lay from three 

 to eight white eggs, size 1.50 x 1.20. Data. Lab- 

 [ White.] rador, May 3, 1899. 5 eggs. Nest in the top of a 



dead tree, 15 feet from the ground. Collector, E. H. Montgomery. 



378. Burrowing Owl. Speotyto cunicularia hypogwa. 



Range. Western North America from the Mississippi 

 Valley west to California; north to the southern parts of 

 British America and south to Central America. 



These peculiar birds are wholly different in plumage, 

 form and habits from any other American Owls. They 

 can readily be recognized by their long, slender and 

 scantily feathered legs. Their plumage is brownish, 

 spotted with white above, and white, barred with brown 

 below; length 10 inches. They nest, generally in large 

 communities in burrows in the ground, usually deserted [White.] 



Prairie Dog holes. While generally but a single pair occupy one burrow, as 

 many as twenty have been found nesting together. Sometimes the burrows are 

 unlined, and again may have a carpet of grasses and feathers. Their white eggs 

 generally number from six to ten; size 1.25 x 1.00. Data. Sterling, Kans., 

 May 7, 1899. 5 eegs. Nest of bits of dry dung at the end of a deserted Prairie 

 Dog burrow. Collector, C. C. Cantwell. 



378a. Florida Burrowing Owl. Speotyto cunicularia floridana. 



Range. Local in the interior of Florida. 



Like the last, but slightly smaller and paler, and with the tarsus less feathered. 

 Their habits or eggs do not differ from the preceding. 



