ZOOLOGY. 
157 
with small spots of white on their outer edges, and large spots of the same on their inner webs ; tail brown, every feather 
with about three pairs of spots of white; bill and claws dark ; irides yellow. 
Total length about 7£ to 8 inches; wing, 5£ inches ; tail, 2| to 3 inches ; sexes nearly the same size and alike in colors. 
Easily distinguished from the other little owls without ear tufts by the few white spots on its tail feathers, (about three 
pairs on each ) It is the smallest owl of the eastern States, but larger than one other western species. 
At Vancouver, February 3, 1854, I found one dead and lying on a log in the woods. I could 
find no cause for its death, unless it was from starvation, it being extremely emaciated and its 
stomach empty. The weather being the coldest known there for many years, and the ground 
covered with snow, there were not many birds about, and mice must have been difficult to 
obtain.—C. 
A fine specimen of this little owl I obtained at the Dalles of the Columbia, on the north side, 
in December, 1853. It was several miles from the timbered region, and I suppose lived in the 
basaltic cliffs of the vicinity.—S. 
Sub-Family ATHENINAE.—The Bird Owls. 
ATHENE HYPUGiEA, Bonaparte. 
The Burrowing Owl. 
Strix cunicularia, Bonap. Am. Ora. I, p. 68, ( hypugcea , in a note on p. 72,) (1825.) 
Athene socialis, Gambel, Proc. Acad. Philada. Ill, p. 47, (1846.) 
Athene hypugcea, Bonap. Consp. An. p. 39. 
Athene hypugcea , (Bonap.) Baied & Cassin, Gen. Bep. Birds, p. 59. 
Figures. —Bonap. Am. Orn. I, pi. 7, fig. 2; Aud. B. of Am. pi. 432, fig. 1: oct. ed. I, p. 31, (upper figure.) 
Sp. Ch. —Above light ashy brown, with numerous partly-concealed white spots. Throat white; a collar of dark brown 
and white below this; then a large white patch; lower parts pale brown or yellow; quills much spotted; tail with five or 
six hands of yellowish white. 
Varying in general tint from very pale to light reddish brown; the pale plumage very common, and haviDg a faded 
appearance. 
No. 8767, (140,) 35 miles west of Fort Kearney, August 3, 1857. Length, 9; extent, 23. 50; wing, 6 inches. Iris, bright 
yellow; bill, grayish. 
This specimen is from the most eastern locality where this bird has been observed. I saw 
it there in great numbers on the plains of Nebraska, and did not observe any difference in 
habits between this and the bird of California.—C. 
I shot a specimen of this owl at the mouth of a “prairie dog’s” hole, near Fort Benton, 
Nebraska.—S. 
ATHENE CUNICULARIA, Bonaparte. 
Western Burrowing Owl. 
Strix cunicularia, Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, (1782.) 
Strix californica, Aud. B. of Am. pi. 432, fig. 2, (name on plate.) 
Athenepalagonica, Peale, Zool. U. S. Ex. Exp. Vincennes, Birds, p. 78, (1848.) 
Athene cunicularia, Bonap. Eur. and N. Am. Birds, p. 6. 
Athene cunicularia, (Mol.,) Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 60. 
Figures. —Aud. B. of Am. pi. 432, fig. 2: oct. ed. I, pi. 31, (lower figure.) 
Sp. Ch. —Distinguished from the burrowing owl of the plains east of the Rocky mountains chiefly by its larger size, more 
full feathering of the tarsus, and longer legs. 
No. 5896, Santa Clara, Cal., November 5, 1855. 
