BURROWING OWLS. Do 
it in his claws, and tears it with his bill. That this owl sees tolerably well 
in the daytime, I have proved to my satisfaction. I caught a mouse, and put 
it alive into an open box about two feet square. This I placed upon a bench 
near Scops, who was attentively watching my movements: the moment he 
discovered the mouse, he opened his eyes wide, bent forward, moved his 
head from side to side, as if to learn its exact position, and then came down 
upon it with an unerring aim, burying his talons deep in the head and back 
of the mouse; then flew with his struggling prey to his perch, where he 
killed the mouse by biting it in the head and back. During the whole act 
he displayed considerable energy and excitement. 
“Acain, Ihave seen him pounce upon a dragon-fly, which lay disabled, 
buzzing on the bench: the bird went through the same manauvres as before, 
striking the insect with the greatest precision, and with both feet. I think 
that these instances prove that the bird can see nearly as well in the day as 
in the night. In both the above instances the sun was not shining on the 
objects struck, but they were very near the window, and the light was con- 
sequently strong. 
“Tn sleeping. Scops usually stands upon one foot, both eyes shut ; but some- 
times he stretches out at full length, resting on his breast. When sound 
asleep, he awakens instantly, and, on his name being pronounced, answers 
at once. I have heard him utter his peculiar, quavering note on one or two 
occasions only. Scops is often out of the house all night, and even past the 
strong light of sunrise. While flying, he moves through the air with a quick, 
steady motion, alighting on any object without missing a foothold. Some- 
times during the day he will take a sudden start, flitting about the room like 
a spectre, alighting on different objects to peer about, which he does by mov- 
ing sideways, turning the head in various directions, and going through many 
curious movements; but he always returns to his perch, and settles down 
quietly.” 
Of the Burrowing Owls, there are two species, the A. ewnicularia and 
the A. hypugea. These birds, from their habit of nesting in burrows in the 
earth, which they have dug, or which were dug by other animals, are worthy 
of more than a passing notice. From the “Thousand Miles’ Walk,” we 
copy the following account of the Athene cunteularia: — 
“T first met with this owl on the banks of the River San Juan, in the 
Banda Oriental, one hundred and twenty miles west of Montevideo, where 
a few pairs were observed devouring mice and insects during the daytime. 
From the river, travelling westward thirty miles, I did not meet a single 
individual, but after crossing the Las Vacas, and coming upon a sandy 
waste, covered with scattered trees and low bushes, I again met with 
several, 
NO. XII. 60 
