FLORIDA BURROWING OWL. 



Speotyto cunicularia floridana. 



Char. Above, grayish brown spotted and barred with white ; below, 

 pale buffish barred with brown ; a patch of white on the breast ; legs long 

 and slender, and covered with buffish bristles. Length about lo inches. 



Nest. At the end of a burrow in the ground, lined with grass and 

 feathers. 



Eggs. 4-10; white, varying in shape, usually nearly round; 1.25 

 X 1. 00. 



This variety, which is found in Florida only, is smaller and lighter- 

 colored than is the well-known bird of the prairies. In habits the 

 two differ little, the Florida birds living in communities, — sometimes 

 several pairs in one burrow, — and feeding on mice and small birds. 

 The tales related of Burrowing Owls and rattlesnakes occupying 

 the same burrow are " hunter's tales," and lack confirmation. 



Note. — The Western form of the Burrowing Owl {S. cuni- 

 cularia hypogcea, has been taken in Massachusetts ; but its occur- 

 rence to the eastward of the Great Plains is accidental. 



