344 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



(a). " Above, grayish-brown, with white, black-edged spots ; 

 below, tawny-whitish, variegated with reddish-brown, chiefly dis- 

 posed in bars ; face and throat whitish ; crissum and legs mostly 

 unmarked ; quills with numerous paired tawny-white spots, 

 and tail feathers barred with the same ; bill grayish yellow ; 

 claws black; 9-10 long, * * * . Prairies and other open 

 portions of the United States west of the Mississippi, abun- 

 dant ; lives in holes in the ground, in prairie-dog towns, and 

 the settlements of other burrowing animals, using their de- 

 serted holes for its nesting place. There is certainly but 

 one species in this country ; it is a mere variety of the S. 

 American bird." (Cones.) 



(6). The eggs are described by Dr. Brewer as white, and 

 as averaging about 1-35 X 1*15 of an inch. 



(c). The peculiar Burrowing Owls habitually occupy the 

 prairies and open lands to the westward of the Mississippi 

 River, and there is but a solitary instance of their appear- 

 ance in New England. They were formerly supposed to live 

 habitually, as members of a " happy family," in the imme- 

 diate company and dwellings of both the rattle-snakes and 

 prairie dogs, but such a state of things has been shown to 

 be fabulous. From the accounts furnished by Say to Bona- 

 parte, the following facts may be gathered. The Burrowing 

 Owls frequently occupy the villages of the marmots, whose 

 deserted holes they use, instead of digging others for them- 

 selves. They are abroad during the da}', and apparently feed 

 chiefly on insects. " They manifest but little timidity, and 

 allow themselves to be approached sufficiently close for shoot- 

 ing ; but if alarmed, some or all of them soar awa}^, and settle 

 down again at a short distance ; if further disturbed, their 

 flight is continued until they are no longer in view, or they 

 descend into their dwellings, whence they are difficult to dis- 

 lodge." 



(d). " The note of our bird is strikingly similar to the cry 

 of the Marmot, which sounds like clieh, clieli, pronounced sev- 

 eral times in rapid succession ; * * * this cry is only uttered 

 as the bird begins its flight." 



