Pennock, on Burrowing Owl 
23 
until I suspected egg-laying had commenced nearly all of the 
birds continued to be gentle and permitted of rather close 
approach. After about the 12th of March both birds of the 
pairs became more wild, flying when the intruder came within 
30 to 40 yards of where they were standing. 
Not nearly all of the birds when closely approached would 
extend their quaint courtesy made by a sudden bending of the 
tarsal joints, but with some individuals this was repeated fre- 
quently — at times several bows in a minute, more often once 
or twice only or singly with considerable intervals. When 
alarmed by our approach, as they stood by the burrows, with a 
single exception they sought safety by flight. In the one in- 
stance referred to the male(?) had flown earlier and on coining 
within live or six paces the female (?) retired into the burrow 
but reappeared within two or three minutes and this per- 
formance was repeated three or four times and finally she re- 
mained outside the burrow. One bird shot on the mound fell or 
struggled into the burrow and was found dead within arins- 
length of the entrance. The only other instance of a bird being 
found in a burrow was discovered in digging out for eggs when 
an old bird was trapped at the nest cavity, where there were 
three chicks but a few hours old and two eggs pipped for 
hatching. The flight of the birds is of a part with their other 
quaint and unusual manners: a rapid get-away, barely skimming 
the ground or low vegetation — scrub Palmetto frequently, rarely 
any bushes — no rapid wing-beats after the start but as if 
timed to slow music for a short distance, 15, 20, or 30 yards 
perhaps, then an abrupt rise of 8 to 10 or 12 feet followed by 
a gentle coasting downward to gain the former low flight level 
and if the course is protracted this straightaway — rise— coast- 
ing may be repeated several times and at times, rarely I think, 
the mellow throat chuckle may be heard while the bird is in 
flight. Frequently the more gentle bird of a pair, and there 
was usually a decided difference, would make a short flight — 
30 to 50 yards — when first alarmed and soon return in close 
proximity to the nest and the intruder. This occurred before 
we suspected them of having eggs as well as when on later visits 
the burrow was dug out and eggs were found. 
The pair under most constant observation were located in an 
open lot about 30 yards from a used street and two dwellings 
were within less than 200 yards of the burrow. My visits to this 
pair were at various hours of the day from a half hour before 
