310 



THE VIRGINIAN EARED-OWL. 



pants, and thus it is that marmot, owl, and snake come to be found in 



the same burrow. 



The color of the Burrowing Owl is a rather rich brown upon the 



upper parts of the body, diversified with a number of small gray-white 



spots, and altogether 

 darker upon the upper 

 surface of the wings. 

 The under parts are gray- 

 ish white. The length of 

 the bird is not quite elev- 

 en inches. The cry of this 

 curious bird is unlike that 

 of anyother Owl, and bears 

 a very great resemblance 

 to the short, sharp bark 

 of the prairie dog. 



We now arrive at a 

 large group of Owls 

 which are remarkable for 

 two tufts of feathers 

 which rise from the 

 A^ head, and occupy nearly 

 the same relative position 

 The Coquimbo ok Burrowing Owl {Athene ^s the ears of quadrupeds. 

 cuniculana). ^, >> .1 



inese "ears, as they are 



called, have, however, nothing to do with the organs of hearing, but are 

 simply tufts of feathers, which can be raised or depressed at the will of 

 the bird, and give a most singular expression to the countenance. 



The Virginian Eared-Owl is found spread over the greater portion 

 of North America, and in former days did great damage among the 

 poultry of the agriculturists, being a bold as well as a voracious bird. 

 Now, however, the ever-ready rifle of the farmer has thinned its num- 

 bers greatly, and has inspired the survivors with such awe that they 

 mostly keep clear of cultivated lands, and confine themselves to seek- 

 ing after their legitimate prey. 



It is a terrible destroyer of game, snatching up grouse, partridges, 

 hares, ducks, sparrows, squirrels, and many other furred and feathered 

 creatures, and not unfrequently striving after larger quarry. The wild 

 turkey is a favorite article of diet with this Owl ; but on account of 

 the extreme wariness of the turkey nature, the depredator finds an un- 

 seen approach to be no easy matter. The usual mode in which the 

 Owl catches the turkey is to find out a spot where its intended prey is 

 quietly sleeping at night, and then to swoop down suddenly upon the 

 slumbering bird before it awakes. Sometimes, however, the Owl is 



