S. CUNICULARIA HYPOGiEA : BURROWING OWL. 99 



in the depths of the woods the curious little creature 

 inhabits. The nest is usually in the hollow of a tree, 

 where are laid, in April, eggs to the number of four, 

 five, or six, white in color, and of the usual shape for 

 this family, measuring only one inch in length by seven- 

 eighths in diameter. 



While it is scarcely necessary to enlarge upon the 

 numerous cases of the occurrence of so common a bird, 

 the reader in search of particular instances may be 

 referred to the following late records, attesting its con- 

 stant presence and breeding in various parts of New 

 England: Coues, Pr. Ess. Inst.,v, 1868, p. 260; Brewer, 

 Pr. Bost. Soc, xvii, 1875, p. 444; Purdie, Bull. Nutt. 

 Club, i, 1876, p. 72; ii, 1877, p. 14; Deane, ibid., ii, 

 1877, p. 84; Allen, Bull. Essex Inst, x, 1878, p. 21 ; 

 Merriam, B. Conn., 1877, p. 74; Minot, B. N. E., 1877, 

 p. 334; Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Club, vi, 1881, p. 143; 

 vii, 1882, p. 23. 



BURROWING OWL. 



SpEOTYTO CUNICULARIA HYPOG^A (Bp) CoUeS. 



Chars. Above, grayish-brown, with white, black-edged spots; below, 

 tawny white, variegated with reddish-brown, chiefly disposed in 

 bars ; face and throat whitish ; crissum and legs mostly un- 

 marked ; quills with numerous paired tawny white spots, and 

 tail-feathers barred with the same ; bill, grayish-yellow ; claws, 

 black. Length, 9.10 long ; wings, 6.50-7.50 ; tail, 3.50-4.00. No 

 tufts ; facial disc imperfect ; tarsi very long, extensively denuded, 

 bristly like the toes. Prairies and open portions of the United 

 States west of the Mississippi; Florida. 



Though we trust our outline of the New England 

 Owls is not a "chapter of accidents," the occurrence of 



