42 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



to excavate for itself. The mining instinct varies 

 greatly in strength, even on the pampas. Some pairs, 

 long mated, only begin to dig when the breeding 

 season is already on them ; others make their bur- 

 rows as early as April that is, six months before 

 the breeding-season* Generally both birds work, 

 one standing by and regarding operations with an 

 aspect of grave interest, and taking its place in 

 the pit when the other retires ; but sometimes the 

 female has no assistance from her partner, and the 

 burrow then is very short* Some pairs work expedi- 

 tiously and their kennel is deep and neatly made ; 

 others go about their task in a perfunctory manner, 

 and begin, only to abandon, perhaps half a dozen 

 burrows, and then rest two or three weeks from 

 their unprofitable labours. But whether industrious 

 or indolent, by September they all have their burrows 

 made. I can only account for Azara's unfortunate 

 statement, repeated by scores of compilers, that the 

 Owl never constructs its own habitations, by assum- 

 ing that a century ago, when he lived and when the 

 country was still very sparsely settled, this Owl had 

 not yet become so abundant or laid aside the wary 

 habit the aborigines had taught it, so that he did 

 not become very familiar with its habits. 



