312 HISTORY OF T1IE 



Dr. Coues, in his "Birds of the Northwest," gives the fol- 

 lowing full and interesting description of its habits: 



"The Burrowing Owl is the only bird of its family inhabit- 

 ing in any numbers the entirely treeless regions of the West, 

 and may be considered characteristic of the plains. Wherever 

 it can find shelter in the holes of such animals as wolves, foxes 

 and badgers, and especially of the various species of marmot 

 squirrels, there it is found in abundance; and in not a few in- 

 stances small colonies are observed living apart from their ordi- 

 nary associates, in holes apparently dug by themselves. They 

 constitute a notable exception to the general rule of arboricole 

 habits in this family, being especially fitted by their conforma- 

 tion for the subterranean mode of life for which they are de- 

 signed, and are furthermore exceptional in their gregarious 

 disposition, here carried to the extreme. The diffusion of the 

 species in the West is so general that there is little occasion to 

 mention particular localities. 



"The Owls are by no means confined to the dog towns, nor 

 even to the similar communities of other gregarious sper- 

 mophiles. They sometimes occupy the underground dens of 

 wolves, foxes and badgers. In South America, the representa- 

 tive race lives among the bizcachas (Lagostomus tzichodactylm} 

 that inhabit the Pampas. On some occasions the birds have 

 been found alone, residing apparently in burrows excavated by 

 themselves, as already stated. They are by no means noctur- 

 nal; able to endure the sunlight without inconvenience, they 

 may be observed abroad at all hours. It has been stated that 

 in autumn, at the approach of cold weather, they retire into 

 their burrows to hibernate a fable matching the one that as- 

 cribes to Swallows the habit of diving into the mud to pass the 

 winter in repose along with torpid frogs. In most localities the 

 birds are abroad the year round; their disappearance in inclem- 

 ent regions is accomplished, if at all, by ordinary migration. 

 In California I saw them, bright and lively as crickets, in No- 

 vember. 



"I never undertook to unearth the nest of a Burrowing Owl, 

 but others have been more zealous in the pursuit of knowledge 



