156 



OWLS. 



Burrowing: Owl. 



The curious little burrowing owl (Speotito cunicularia) of 

 America has a special interest on account of its habits, and accordingly 

 demands a somewhat fuller notice. This bird is only some 9 inches in length, and 

 may be easily recognised by the length of its legs, of which a considerable portion 

 is bare, and its spotted plumage. It differs from the preceding form by the length 

 of the first primary quill ; the interval between its tip and that of the third feather 

 of the same series being less than that of the metatarsus. The whole wing is 

 comparatively short, and has but little power of sustained flight. The general colour 

 of the plumage is sandy brown, the head being marked with oval splashes of buffish 



BURROWING OWL (f nat. size). 



white, while all the back, wings, and tail are mottled arid barred with white or buff. 

 The throat and the front of the neck are white, but most of the remainder of the 

 under surface creamy white, with transverse bars of sandy brown, gradually 

 becoming more and more indistinct towards the under tail-coverts, where they 

 disappear. Although it has been considered that there are several distinct 

 species of burrowing owls, Dr. Sharpe is of opinion that only two can be distin- 

 guished, one of which ranges throughout the southern and western portions of the 

 United States and the whole of Central and South America; while the second 

 (S. guadelopensis) is confined to the West Indies. There are two great peculiarities 

 in the habits of the burrowing owl ; firstly, that it is largely diurnal, and secondly, 

 that it always takes up its residence in underground burrows. Regarding its 



