94 THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 



Africa; and, what is remarkable, they were observed in 

 one instance to prefer a raised knoll, though it was half a 

 mile from the sea. 



Another bird with an architectural bent is the Burrowing 

 Owl (Strix cunicularia), a singular bird, found in some of 

 the warmer districts of America. This bird, too, is accused 

 of availing itself of the labours of others with as much in- 

 justice as it appears the puffin is subjected to. Fouillee 

 and Molina, the original describers, say that the owl 

 found in Chili digs a hole in the ground for its nest. 



"The evidence for this fact," says Hill, "is far from 

 being satisfactory, for it does not follow that a bird which 

 has been found in a hole underground either dug that 

 subterranean habitation or constantly resided there.'* 



The evidence upon the subject is certainly contradictory, 

 and can only be reconciled by considering that the observa- 

 tions of travellers apply to distinct species of these birds. 

 Vieillot tells us that the owl he observed in St. Domingo 

 digs itself a burrow two feet deep, at the bottom of which 

 its eggs are deposited on a bed of moss, stalks of herbs, 

 and dried roots, and that the young, when only covered 

 with down, frequently ascend to the entrance to enjoy the 

 warmth of the sun, but, being very fearful of danger, they 

 quickly hide themselves in the burrow the instant they are 

 approached. Azara, on the other hand, says that the 

 diurnal owl, which he calls Suinda, never enters woods 

 or perches upon trees, but exclusively haunts the open 

 country where game abounds, making its nest and conceal- 

 ing itself in the holes or kennels of the armadillos, which 

 are not very top, but well lined with hay or straw. 



