The Owl Family. 49 



the same manner. It is, however, somewhat impatient 

 of cold, and should be carefully guarded against sudden 

 changes of temperature; while some attempt should 

 be made to reproduce for its benefit in captivity the 

 conditions under which it exists "at home," where 

 contrary to all analogy, and even to what might 

 naturally be deduced from its appearance, it makes 

 its dwelling under ground, sometimes in burrows of 

 its own construction, but more frequently in those of 

 the prairie-dog, a species of marmot very abundant 

 on the plains of South America. 



The Prairie Owl is not, perhaps, as strictly nocturnal 

 in its habits as most of its congeners, but never- 

 theless gets confused aiTd frightened if suddenly 

 exposed to a strong light, when the pupils of its 

 eyes contract to mere slits of a hair's breadth, like 

 those of the domestic cat under similar circumstances. 



The remarkably long legs of this Owl are thickly 

 covered with minute, hair-like feathers down to the 

 insertion of the talons ; although in its native haunts 

 it is not exposed to inclement weather, such as the 

 Owls of the northern hemisphere have to encounter : 

 the reason for the covering, therefore, is not apparent. 



The colouring of the Prairie Owl is rather pleasing, 

 consisting as it does of several shades of brown 

 prettily disposed, and darker on the upper than on the 

 lower parts of the body which have a greyish tinge. 

 One that I kept for some time was very fond of 

 mice, but would eat meat, and preferred it raw. 

 It would not touch insects, such as blackbeetles and 

 mealworms, though some naturalists assert the species 

 to be at least partially insectivorous. Small birds were 



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