THE BURROWING OWL. 



{Speotyfo cunicularia hypogaea.) 



The Burrowing Owl is a denizen of the 

 prairies and plains west of the Missis- 

 sippi and the Missouri rivers. It is 

 found from localities somewhat north 

 of the United States as far to the south- 

 ward as Guatemala. In some parts of 

 this large area it is exceedingly common, 

 and it is the only representative of the 

 owl tribe that inhabits, in any numbers at 

 least, the treeless regions of the western 

 states. 



Unlike other species of owls, the Bur- 

 rowing Owl is especially fitted for a sub- 

 terranean mode of life. It will make its 

 hom^ in the burrows of the various ani- 

 mals that inhabit the prairie regions. 

 These birds are social and live in colo- 

 nies consisting of several pairs. Some 

 Indians have claimed that it retires into 

 its burrow at the approach of winter, and 

 there remains in a torpid condition dur- 

 ing the cold weather. Careful observers 

 have, however, shown that this is not the 

 case. It may be said that, except in the 

 northern part of its range, where the win- 

 ters are severe, it is resident wherever 

 found and not migratory. It is probable 

 that it would not be migratory at all were 

 it not that the animals upon which it 

 feeds are not obtainable in severe weath- 

 er. Investigation has proved that the 

 stories of the confidential relations exist- 

 ing between the Burrowing Owl, the 

 prairie dog and the rattlesnake are pure 

 fabrications of an imaginative mind, 

 greatly strengthened by additions as they 

 are passed from person to person. The 

 only foundation for these stories is the 

 fact that this Owl and also the rattlesnake 

 do occasionally enter the burrows of the 

 prairie dog. Dr. Coues has said "that the 

 Owls live at ease in the settlements and 

 on famihar terms with their four-footed 

 neighbors is an undoubted fact ; but that 

 they inhabit the same burrows or have 



any intimate domestic relations is quite 

 another thing. It is no proof that the 

 quadrupeds and the birds live together 

 that they are often seen to scuttle at each 

 other's heels into the same hole when 

 alarmed, for in such a case the two 

 simply seek the nearest shelter independ- 

 ently of each other." It is not at all 

 strange that the snakes should also enter 

 these holes. It may be that they do so 

 for the want of some other retreat on a 

 broad expanse of prairie, but it is much 

 more probable that they are in search of 

 food, either in the form of young dogs or 

 the eggs of the Owl. Though the Bur- 

 rowing Owls are found with the burrow- 

 ing mammals, they do not occupy the 

 same holes with them and do without 

 doubt drive them out if they wish to pre- 

 empt the burrows for their own use. 



Though the Burrowing Owl probably 

 obtains most of its food in the early twi- 

 light, it is frequently "in motion on the 

 brightest days, capturing its prey or 

 evading its pursuer with the greatest 

 ease." Like the sparrowhawk, it fre- 

 quently hovers in the air and drops upon 

 its prey. Its food consists of the smaller 

 rodents, including the young of the prai- 

 rie dog, frogs, fish, lizards, snakes and in- 

 sects of various kinds. In fact, its food 

 is so varied and consists of noxious ani- 

 mals to so great an extent that it is of 

 great service to the agriculturist. Dr. 

 Fisher says : "In summer and fall, when 

 grasshoppers and crickets are exceeding- 

 ly abundant on the western plains, the 

 Burrowing Owl feeds almost exclusively 

 on such food. Like the sparrowhawk, 

 this little Owl will chase and devour 

 grasshoppers until its stomach is dis- 

 tended to the utmost." It is rare and 

 only when pressed for food that it attacks 

 and kills other birds. 



Dr. C. S. Canfield gives the following 



155 



