BIRDS. 
31 
was, for one of its order, very tame. The same author gives a curious account of 
its habits : in a different manner from other raptorial birds, when it has killed its 
prey, it does not fly to a neighbouring tree, but devours it on the spot. It roosts on 
the ground, either on the top of a sand hillock, or by the bank of a stream : it 
sometimes walks, instead of hopping, and when doing so, it has some resemblance 
in general habit to the Milvago chimango. It preys on small quadrupeds, mollus- 
cous animals, and even insects ; and I find in my notes, that I saw one in the 
Falkland Islands, feeding on the carrion of a dead cow. Although in these 
respects this Circus manifests some relation in its habits with the Polyboriuce, 
yet it has the elegant and soaring flight, peculiar to its family ; and in form it 
does not depart from the typical structure. Mr. Gould remarks that “ we see in 
this elegant bird as perfect an analogue of the Circus cyaneus of Europe, as in the 
preceding species of the Circus ceruginosus.” 
Family. — S T R I G I D M. 
Sub-Fam. — SURNINiE. 
Athene cunicularia. JBonap. 
Strix cunicularia, Mol. Bonap. Am. Orni. I. 68. pi. 7. f. 2. 
This bird, from its numbers and the striking peculiarities of its habits has 
been mentioned in the works of all travellers, who have crossed the Pampas. In 
Banda Oriental it is its own workman, and excavates i'ts burrow on any level 
spot of sandy soil ; but in the Pampas, or wherever the Bizcacha is found, it uses 
those made by that animal. During the open day, but more especially in the 
evening, these owls may be seen in every direction standing frequently by pairs 
on the hillock near their habitation. If disturbed, they either enter the hole, or, 
uttering a shrill harsh cry, move with a remarkably undulatory flight to a short 
distance, and then turning round, steadily gaze at their pursuer. Occasionally in 
the evening they may be heard hooting. 1 found in the stomachs of two which I 
opened the remains of mice; and I saw a small snake killed and carried away by 
one. It is said that reptiles are the common object of their prey during the day 
time. Before I was aware, from the numbers of mice caught in my traps, how 
vastly numerous the small rodents are in these open countries, I felt much sur- 
prise how such infinite numbers of owls could find sufficient means of support. 
I never saw this bird south of the Rio Negro, (Lat. 41° S.) In North America 
they frequent only the trans-Mississippian territories in the neighbourhood of the 
Rocky Mountains. The account given by Say of their habits, agrees with what 
