Pennock, on Burrowing Owl 
23 
until I suspected egg-layiiig* had comiueuced nearly all of the 
birds coutinued to he gentle and periuitted of rather close 
approach. After about the 12th of March both birds of the 
pairs hecaine more Avild, flying when the intruder came witliiu 
30 to 40 yards of where they were standing. 
Not nearly all of the birds Avhen closely approached would 
extend their quaint courtesy made by a sudden bending of the 
tarsal joints, but with some individuals this was rei)eated fre- 
quently — at times several bows in a niinnte, more often once 
or tAvice only or singly Avith considerable intervals. When 
alarmed by our approach, as they stood by the hnrrows, witli a 
single exception they sought safety by flight. In tlie one in- 
stance referred to the inalef?) had floAvn earlier and on coming 
Avithin live or six paces the female ( ?) retired into the bnrroAV 
but reappeared Avithin tAVO or three minntes and this per- 
formance was repeated three or four times and finally she re- 
mained outside the bnrroAV. One bird shot on the mound fell or 
struggled into the bnrroAV and Avas found dead within arins- 
lengtli of tlie entrance. The only other instance of a bird being 
found in a bnrroAA" Avas discovered in digging out for eggs Avheii 
an old bird Avas tra])]Aed at the nest cavity, Avliere tliere were 
three chicks but a feAV hours old and tAvo eggs pipped for 
hatching. The flight of the birds is of a part Avith their other 
quaint and unusual manners : a rapid get-aAvay, barely skimming 
the ground or low vegetation — scrub Ihilmetto frequently, rarely 
any bushes — no rapid Aving-beats after the start but as if 
timed to sIoav music for a short distance, 15, 20, or 30 yar<ls 
perhaps, then an abrupt rise of 8 to 10 or 12 feet followed by 
a gentle coasting doAviiAAUird to gain the former Ioav flight level 
and if the course is protracted this straightaAvay — rise — coast- 
ing may be repeated several times and at times, rarely I think, 
the melloAV throat chuckle may be heard Avhile the bird is in 
flight. Frequently tlie more gentle bird of a pair, and tliere 
Avas nsnally a decided difference, Avonld make a short flight — 
30 to 50 yards — Avhen first alarmed and soon retnrii in close 
proximity to the nest and the intruder. This occurred before 
Ave suspected them of having eggs as well as when on later visits 
the bniTOAV Avas dug out and eggs Avere fonnd. 
The pair under most constant observation Avere located in an 
open lot about 30 yards from a used street and tAVO dwellings 
Avere within less than 200 yards of the bnrroAv. My visits to this 
pair Avere at various hours of the day from a half hour before 
