O WLS. 
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The curious little burrowing owl (Speotito cunicularia) of 
Burrowing Owl. ^ mer - ca q as a S p e cial interest on account of its habits, and accordingly 
demands a somewhat fuller notice. This bird is only some 9 inches in length, and 
may be easily recognised by the length of its legs, of which a considerable portion 
is bare, and its spotted plumage. It differs from the preceding form by the length 
of the first primary quill; the interval between its tip and that of the third feather 
of the same series being less than that of the metatarsus. The whole wing is 
comparatively short, and has but little power of sustained flight. The general colour 
of the plumage is sandy brown, the head being marked with oval splashes of huffish 
burrowing owl (f nat. size). 
white, while all the back, wings, and tail are mottled and barred with white or buff. 
The throat and the front of the neck are white, but most of the remainder of the 
under surface creamy white, with transverse bars of sandy brown, gradually 
becoming more and more indistinct towards the under tail-coverts, where they 
disappear. Although it has been considered that there are several distinct 
species of burrowing owls, Dr. Sharpe is of opinion that only two can be distin¬ 
guished, one of which ranges throughout the southern and western portions of the 
United States and the wdiole of Central and South America; while the second 
(S. guadelopensis ) is confined to the West Indies. There are two great peculiarities 
in the habits of the burrowing owl; firstly, that it is largely diurnal, and secondly, 
that it always takes up its residence in underground burrows. Regarding its 
