BAEN OWLS. 585 



Cape of Grood Hope, and is endowed with magnificent plumage, 

 red and black partly mixed with grey. The colonists tame it, 

 and use it to keep their houses clear of mice. 



The Burrowing Owl derives its name from the place in which 

 it makes its nest. This bird is about the size of a Pigeon, and 

 frequents the immense plains, or pampas, of South America, and 

 the prairies of North America. The burrows, however, it does 

 not dig itself, but simply takes possession of those belonging to 

 other animals, after having driven them away by its disgusting 

 odour. This mode of conquering a territory, although of a 

 peaceful character, is, to say the least of it, singular. 



Burrowing Owls do not confine themselves to going out in the 

 evening and morning. They love the light of day, and willingly 

 seek their food even when the sun is vertical. It is a curious fact 

 that this bird lives in association with beings with which it has no 

 natural tie, such as the prairie dog, a sort of marmot peculiar 

 to the New World. Captain Francis Head, an English traveller, 

 who one day came across a flock of these creatures thus living 

 together, depicts their attitude as follows : — 



" Towards the evening the prairie dogs keep outside their bur- 

 rows, with a serious look on their faces, like grave and reflective 

 philosophers or moralists. During the day the entrance to the 

 subterranean burrow is guarded by two Owls, which never quit 

 their post. While the travellers were galloping over the plain the 

 Owls continued their duty as sentries, looking them full in the 

 face, and one after the other shaking their venerable heads in 

 a way which was most ludicrous on account of its solemnity. 

 When the horsemen came near them the two sentinels lost 

 much of their dignified look, and darted hurriedly into the 

 burrows." 



This Owl feeds on rats, reptiles, and insects. It is gentle, and 

 may be easily tamed, and is sometimes kept for the purpose of 

 destroying vermin. 



The birds which are comprised in the genus of Barn or Screech 

 Owls have a complete facial disk, and short tarsi feathered down to 

 the claws. They are as large, and even larger than the Short- 

 eared Owl. 



The first of this group is the Tawny Owl, or Howlet, com- 



