BURROWING OWL. 
31 
most fragments of some mouldering wall, whose rugged- 
ness is but slightly softened by the mellowing moonlight, 
imagination loves to view him as a malignant spirit, 
hooting triumphantly over the surrounding desolation ! 
But we are now to make the reader acquainted with 
an owl to which none of these associations can belong ; 
a bird that, so faiHfrem- seeking refuge in the ruined 
habitations of man, fixes its residence within the earth ; 
and, instead of concealing itself in solitary recesses 
of the forest, delights to dwell on open plains, in 
company with animals remarkable for their social 
disposition, neatness, and order. Instead of sailing 
heavily forth in the obscurity of the evening or morning 
twilight, and then retreating to mope away the inter- 
vening hours, our owl enjoys the broadest glare of the 
noonday sun, and, flying rapidly along, searches for food 
or pleasure during the cheerful light of day. 
The votaries of natural science must always feel 
indebted to the learned and indefatigable Say, for the 
rich collection of facts he has made whenever opportu- 
nities have been presented, but more especially in the 
instance of this very singular bird, whose places of resort 
in this country are too far distant to allow many the 
pleasure of examining for themselves. We feel doubly 
disposed to rejoice that the materials for the history 
of our bird are drawn from his ample store, both on 
account of their intrinsic excellence, and because it 
affords us an opportunity of evincing our admiration of 
the zeal, talents, and integrity, w hich have raised this 
man to the most honourable and enviable eminence as 
a naturalist. 
In the trans-Mississippian territories of the United 
States, the burrowing owl resides exclusively in the 
villages of the Marmot, or Prairie Dog, whose exca- 
vations are so commodious, as to render it unnecessary 
that our bird should dig for himself, as he is said to do 
in other parts of the world, where no burrowing animals 
exist. These villages are very numerous, and variable 
in their extent, sometimes covering only a few acres, 
and at others spreading over the surface of the country 
