ACCIPITBES: DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 
51T 
shafted. 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 tail-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 G.50-7.00; tail 3.00-3.25; tarsus 1.50-1.75; middle 
toe without claw 0.80; chord of culmen without cere 0.50-0.00. Young differ in much less 
spotting, or even uniform- 
ity, of the body above, 
and 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," {Cynomyi< 
ludovicianus and C. gunni- 
soni) and other burrowing 
rodents, especially Spermo- 
pMlus richardsoni in the 
north, and S. heecherji in 
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 Burrowino Ov^l. Like the last; 
rather smaller; wing 6.00-6.50; tail scarcely 3.00; shanks more extensively denuded, only 
featliered about half way down in front ; feet and bill 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 
race, colonies of which are common in some places. 
7. Suborder ACCIPITEES : Diurnal Birds of Prey. 
This large group, comprising the large majority of the order Raptores, 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 Gypogeranides. The nostrils are 
not completely pervious, nor is the hallux elevated, as in Cathartides; while other peculiarities 
of the American vultures are wanting. Comparing Accipitres 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. Randionidce). 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 bill 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 
I . 
