CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. a7 
CLXII. SPEOTYTO Gtocer. 1842. 
378. Burrowing Owl. 
Speotyto cunicularia hypogea (BONAP.) COUES. 1872. 
First observed at a point on the International Boundary Line, a 
little east of Frenchman river, not far from the mouth of Milk river, 
where a few individuals inhabited a small settlement of prairie 
dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). This seems to be about the northern 
limit of the species, and it is nowhere so abundant in this region 
as in many places further south. It was met with a second time 
a little west of Frenchman river, and for the third time, in some- 
what greater numbers, on a piece of prairie near Sweetgrass hills. 
There were no prairie dogs here or at the locality last mentioned, 
so far as I know, but the ground was riddled with the burrows of 
the tawny marmot (Spermophilus richardsont), which seemed to 
suit the owls just as well. (Coues.) The first Manitoba record of 
this species was a pair taken six miles north of Portage la Prairie on 
June 2nd, 1897, and brought tome. One of these is still in my 
collection. Since that time the birds have seemed to have accommo- 
dated themselves to conditions and increased in numbers in several 
parts of Manitoba cocupying deserted fox and badger holes, and 
they are now regular and increasing summer residents. I did not, 
however, note them west between Portage and Edmonton along 
the line of the G. T. P. Ry., I presume because our course lay too 
far north. They are a very prolific species. One nest dug out for 
me in 1904 contained eight young birds and these proved in many 
ways the most interesting pets I ever had. (Atkinson.) Rare at 
Aweme, Man., breeding in old badger holes. (Criddle.) I found 
this bird breeding in Saskatchewan at Rush lake, June 12th, 1891. 
I have only once taken the trouble to dig down to its eggs. It took 
two of us nearly an hour to get at the nest, which consisted of a 
hollow lined with cow dung and contained 7 eggs. The burrow 
went down three feet and then ran along another four feet to the 
nest. (W. Razne.) 
On June 23rd, 1896, three pairs were found occupying holes on 
the prairie a little north of Moosejaw, Sask. The nests were not 
dug out, but the birds were nesting; in June, 1895, along French- 
man river, Sask., this species was occasionally seen. In May, 
