192 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



ingly abundant on the Western plains, the Burrowing Owl feeds al- 

 most exclusively on such food. Like the Sparrow Hawk, and even 

 others of the larger diurnal birds of prey, this little Owl will chase and 

 devour grasshoppers until its stomach is distended to the utmost. In 

 all the stomachs the writer has examined, which were collected mainly 

 in Dakota and Nebraska, the remains of grasshoppers or crickets were 

 always found. 



Prof. Aughey, whose investigations were carried on during the 

 season when these insects were most abundant, found that the larger 

 proportion of the stomach contents consisted of their remains. Beetles, 

 dragon -flies, and the larvae of various kinds of insects are eaten occa- 

 sionally by this species. 



William Lloyd writes that in several specimens dissected at Paint 

 Rock, Tex., remains of myriapods were found. Other cases have come 

 to our notice where it was seen feeding on scorpions and centipeds. 

 A gentleman in Arizona found a pile of fragments of scorpions on the 

 corner of the roof where a Burrowing Owl habitually carried its prey 

 to devour it. 



The writer found a number of molecricket scorpions (Datames sulfur- 

 cm) in the stomach of a Burrowing Owl secured in Walker Pass, Oal. 



It will thus be seen that there is good reason for the almost universal 

 belief in the beneficial habits of the Burrowing Owl. It destroys 

 immense numbers of noxious insects, mice, ground squirrels, as well 

 as scorpions and centipeds, and rarely molests the smaller insectivor- 

 ous birds. There would seem to be no excuse for a failure to effectually 

 protect it by law. Bounties offered for Hawks and Owls, however, 

 often result in the destruction of great numbers of this species, so 

 valuable to the agriculturists. More shameful still is the fact that it 

 has been slaughtered and sold for millinery purposes. 



Mr. Clark P. Streator informs us that in the year 1887 E. P. Lor- 

 quin, of San Francisco, Oal., received for millinery purposes, 500 Bur- 

 rowing Owls and 1,000 specimens of other species of Owls and Hawks, 

 besides hundreds of other birds. 



The Burrowing Owl is terrestrial, inhabiting the treeless, grassy 

 plains and deserts, dwelling in the abandoned burrows of various spe- 

 cies of mammals as well as those of the land tortoises and larger lizards. 

 Among the mammals whose deserted burrows are used by this' bird may 

 be mentioned prairie dogs, spermophiles, woodchucks, viscachas (South 

 America), wolves, foxes, badgers, skunks, and armadillos. It will be seen 

 from this extensive list that the Owl seldom wants for a home, as one or 

 more of the above species are found in some part of its range. Vari- 

 ous authors have stated that the bird sometimes excavates a burrow for 

 itself, but there is no ground for the statement, for in no instance has it 

 been observed in the work of excavation. It does not even share the 

 habit of the rodents, which, after severe showers, carry out and place 

 beyond the entrance of the burrow the loose earth which has washed in. 



