24 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



foxes, and even badgers. No one doubts that owls 

 live at ease with these animals, but that they have 

 any intimate family relations is to be questioned. 

 The owls are fewest in the more densely populated 

 prairie dog cities and most numerous in the 

 sparsely settled towns. This is interesting, as it 

 serves to prove that the owls have taken up their 

 lodging because of convenience, and not for com- 

 panionship. 



A most remarkable partnership is that between 

 the chickaree squirrel and the saw-whet owl. This 

 companionship was once thought to be accidental. 

 Some naturalists claimed that the squirrel was 

 merely seeking a hole to escape danger that was 

 impending. But this is not true ; for they live to- 

 gether in perfect harmony. Although the squirrel 

 is a very pugnacious creature, and sometimes bent 

 upon blood, he lives amicably with the owl. When 

 or where their friendship began, no one knows. It 

 is truly remarkable that two creatures so widely 

 different in habits should be parties to such a per- 

 manent and closely cemented friendship. 



The guillemont is a strange cave-dweller. She 

 often wanders far inland to lay her eggs, gener- 

 ally in company with others of her tribe, and seeks 

 a cave or burrow facing the cliffs. The eggs of the 

 guillemont are distinguished among those of Brit- 



