ACCIPITBES : DIUBNAL BIBDS OF PBEY. 



517 



ahafted. Under parts white or pale ochrey, the breast, belly, and sides barred with transverse 

 spots of brown, in a pretty regular manner ; legs and under taU-coverts unmarked. Lining of 

 wings tawny-white, dusky-spotted on the primary coverts. Sexes indistinguishable in size or 

 color: length 9.50; extent 23.00; wing 6.50-7.00; tail 3.00-3.25; tarsus 1.50-1.75; middle 

 too without claw 0.80; chord of culmen without cere 0.50-O.nO. Young differ in much less 

 spotting, or even uniform- 



ity, 

 and 



of the body above, 

 whitish under parts, 

 excepting the jugular col- 

 lar; wing- and tail-coverts 

 largely white. A remark- 

 able owl, abounding in suit- 

 able places in Western N. 

 Am., from the Plains to 

 the Pacific, in the treeless 

 regions inhabited by the 

 "prairie dogs," (Cynomi/$ 

 ludovicicmus and G. gunni- 

 soni) and other burrowing 

 rodents, especially Spermo- 

 philus richardsoni in the 

 north, and S. 



in Flu. 361. — Burrowing Owl, reduced. (Slieppard del. Nichols sc.) 



California. I have, found colonies in Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Dakota, Montana N. to 

 49°, Colorado, New Mexico and California, in all cases occupying the deserted burrows of 

 the quadrupeds, not living in common with them as usually supposed. They also occupy the 

 holes made by badgers and foxes. The eggs may be laid even 6 or 8 feet from the entrance of 

 the burrow; they appear to vary in number up to 10; are white, subspherical, 1.30 X 1-10. 

 The species has exceptionally occurred in Massachusetts. Its food is chiefly insects and small 

 reptiles, birds and quadrupeds being apparently rarely taken. Wherever found, the species is 

 resident, being able to endure extremely cold weather. 

 488. S. c. florid'ana. (Of Florida. Fig. 360.) Florida Burrowing Owl. Like the last; 

 rather smaller; wing 6.00-6.50; tail scarcely 3.00; shanks more extensively denuded, only 

 feathered about half way down in front ; feet and biU relatively longer. Upper parts darker, 

 rather bistre-brown, more profusely and confusedly spotted with smaller and whiter marks ; 

 under parts more heavily and regularly barred with darker brown. Florida, an isolated local 

 pace, colonies of which are common in some places. 



7. SCBORDER ACCIPITRES: Diurnal Birds or Prey. 



This large group, comprising the large ma,jority of the order Maptores, may be most 

 readily defined by exclusion of the particular characters of the other suborders. There is 

 nothing of the grallatorial analogy shown by the singular Gypogenmides. The nostrils are 

 not completely pervious, nor is the hallux elevated, as in Cathartides ; while other peculiarities 

 of the American vultures are wanting. Comparing Acdpitres with Striges, we miss the peculiar 

 physiognomy of owls, the eyes looking laterally as in ordinary birds, and the facial disc being 

 absent (rudimentary in Circince) ; aftershafts are usually present, and the outer toe is not versa- 

 tile nor shorter than the inner one (exc. Pcmdionidcs). The external ears are moderate and 

 non-operculate. The eye is usually sunken beneath a much projecting superciliary shield, 

 conferring a decided and threatening gaze. The biU shows the raptorial type perfectly, and is 

 always provided with a cere in which (not at its edge as in most owls) the nostrils open ; the 



