THE LITTLE OWL. 79 



society is said also to be augnieuted by a third member, namely, the rattlesnake. It is now, 

 however, ascertained with tolerable accuracy that the rattlesnake is nothing but a very unwel- 

 come intruder upon the marmot, and, as has been shown by exi^eriments, is liable to be 

 attacked and destroyed by the legal owner of the burrow. If all had their rights, it would 

 seem that the Owl is nearly as much an intruder as the snake, and that it only takes posses- 

 sion of the burrow excavated by the prairie dog in order to save itself the trouble of maldng a 

 subterranean abode for itself. Indeed, tliei-e are some parts of the country where the Owl is 

 perforce obliged to be its o\\ti workman, and in default of convenient "dog" burrows, is fain 

 to employ its claws and bill in excavating a home for itself. 



The tunnel which is made by the Owl is not nearly so deep or so neatly constructed as 

 that which is dug by the mannot, being only eighteen inches or two feet in depth, and very 

 rough in the interior. At the bottom of this burrow is placed a tolerably-sized heap of dried 

 grass, moss, leaves, and other soft substances, upon which are deposited its white-shelled 

 eggs. 



The Burrowing Owl is peculiar to America, where it is distributed over the whole of the 

 western and southern portion of the continent. It congregates in great numbers, and differs 

 from any of the other members of the Owl family by breeding under ground. 



Dr. Kennedy says: "When molested, they commence bowing and chattering in a some- 

 what ludicrous manner at the intruder." Mr. Darwin says the South American Owl digs its 

 o^\^l buiTOw. 



The genus Athene is a very large one, and contains many ciuious and interesting birds 

 which cannot be described at length except in a monogi-aph of the Owl tribe. Among these 

 maybe mentioned two remarkable birds, the Boobook Owl {AtJiene boo-book), and the Wink- 

 ing Owl {AlJiene conmcens), both natives of Australia. 



The former of these birds is popularly called the Australian Cuckoo by the colonists on 

 account of its cry, which bears no small resemblance to the weU-kno^vll song of " Spring's har- 

 binger." As the bird, after the manner of Owls, utters its cry by night, it is often noted as an 

 instance of the perversity of the Australian climate, which reverses the usual operations of 

 nature, and forces the cuckoo to take the place of the nightingale, and pour forth its song at 

 night. This species is diurnal in its habits, and remarkably swift and agile on the wing, being 

 able to chase successfully the quick-winged insects that are so numerous in Australia. When 

 roused, it is said by Mr. Gould to resemble the woodcock in the manner of its flight, and to 

 further carry out the likeness in its habit of rising out of gun-shot, and diving rapidly into 

 the nearest covert, where it lies safely housed until its enemies have withdrawii from the neigh- 

 borhood. The quaint title of Boobook is the name by which it is known among the natives. 



The Winking Owl is also a day flyer, strong and powerful on the wing, though with 

 flight nearly as noiseless as that of the common barn Owl of England. It is a large and power- 

 ful bird, delighting to capture the young koala, or native bear, togetlier with other prey of 

 equal strength and magnitude. Berries have been found in the stomach of one of these Owls ; 

 but Mr. Gould thinks that they have probably come from the crop of some unfortunate bird 

 which had fallen a prey to the Winking Owl. The cry of this species is remarkably resonant, 

 and is said to resemble the lowing of an ox. If wounded it becomes a very dangerous oppo- 

 nent, flinging itself on its back, striking fierce and rapid blows with its well-armed feet, and 

 seeking to seize its foe in the terrible clutch of its curved talons. 



The general color of this species is a dark clove-brown, diversified by many bars and 

 stripes. 



This genus finds another representative in the person of the Little Owl {Athene 

 passerina). 



The name of Little Owl is very appropriate, for it is only eight inches in length including 

 the plumage, and when stripped of its feathers appears hardly so large as a common starling. 

 It is properly a native of Germany, Holland, France, and Austria, and has sometimes been 



