ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



187 



HAWK OWL. 



the Burrowing Owls have as their nearest relation, the genus 

 Athene of Europe. 



What is considered as the typical form of Burrowing Owl, 

 Speotyto cuniciilaria (]Mol.). is widely spread over South 

 America, although its terrestrial habits confine it to the open plains 

 and pampas of that continent. Passing northward through Central 

 America and Mexico, and over the wide western plains of our 

 own country, the Burrowing Owl becomes smaller, and the brown 

 areas on wings and tail increase until they predominate over the 

 white. This is the Western Burrowing Owl. 6^. c. hypogaea 

 (Bonap.), which has so often figured in pseudo-scientific tales as 

 the third element in the "happy family" of rattlesnakes and prairie- 

 dogs. There is of course no vestige of truth in the story. The 

 prairie-dog is doubtless dispossessed by both bird and reptile, if 

 not indeed devoured during the process. 



