admitting the finger; and the whole is so firmly compacted, that it
might, without injury,ibe;;^ floor.
It is delightful, during fine weather, to see these lively little
creatures sporting about the entrance of their burrows, which are
always kept in the neatest repair, and are often inhabited byiseveral
individuals. When alarmedT-thfipi immediately take refuge; in their
subterranean chambers, or if the dreaded danger, be not immediately
impending, they stand near the brink of the entrance, bravely barking
and flourishing their tails, or else sit erect to reconnoitre the movements
of the enemy.
The mounds thrown up by the Marmot» in the neighbourhood of
the Rocky Mountains, have an appearance of greater antiquity than
those observed on- the far distant plains... They «Sometimes extend
to several yards in diameter, although their elevation is- trifling,
and, except immediately surrounding the entrance, are clothed with
a scanty herbage which always distinguishes the area-of these
villages. Sometimes several- villages have been observed almost
entirely. destitute of vegetation, and recollecting that the,- Marmot
feeds exclusively on grasses and herbaceous plants, it seems singular
that this animal should always, choose the most barren spot for the
place of his,abode. However this may be accounted for, it at least
affords an opportunity of beholding the approach of his enemies,
and allows him to. seek, within the bosom of‘ .the earth, that security
which he has neither strength nor arms to command.
In all these Prairie Dog villages the Burrowing Owl is seen moving
briskly about, or else in small flocks scattered among the mounds,
and at a distance it may be mistaken for the Marmot itself, when
sitting erect. They manifest but little timidity, and allow themselves
to be approached sufficiently-close for shooting; but if alarmed, some
or all of them soar away, and settle down again at a short distance;
if further disturbed, their flight is continued until they are no longer
in view, or they descend into their dwellings, whence they are difficult
to dislodge.
The burrows into' wMfch^thbsfe'Owls have been seen to descend, on
the plains of :the river®]®ttc‘; - where they- are most numerous, were
evidently - excavaitedcby «the Marmot, whence it has been inferred' by
Say, th at'thejï«veE©^%ithém^d'nma'ö'fl^|tbou]gh, unfriendly residents of
the ïsamë h a b i t a t i o n t h a t bur Owl was the; sole * occupant of a
burrow acquired-by thetëstgMjd&conquest. The evidence; of this was
clearly .-presented' .by the^iw^dUgW'ondSti'onj of the -burrows tenanted-
by th e : O W h frequentlvtólstve'd in, and their sties Channelled
».by thewains;? while th e &fèaftltad' well preserved mansion of
the Marmot, ^showedJ'lbctafctivb^ba^^öfS^^tslaifal and industrious
'owner.'i We^haveVk'o' evidenceAhat the' Owl and>" Marffiot habitually
resort;.to one burrow; yet we are well asSurfed^byTike, and?©thesrs,
that a common danger often drives them intoïthe^satne excavation*
wb&reli lizards t and. rattlesnakes; also' Cuter»;'for concealment; and
safety.' is <
“.ndEhe -Owl' observed’ 'by&sVaeillot in St, Domingo,- digs itself a
burrow two feet tin^Édeptïbfi at. the bottom of which- its eggs are
deposited, fonia bed of . moss* herb-stalks, and dried? roots. These
eggs are two in number, ofiawery pdteJwhifee, nearly spheroidal, and
about ?ak’ large as .those ofi-the; Dovesü When«*the jyouaig' are only
covered with downy they.'frequently, ascend to the1 efrtranee to enjoy
the warmth of the. sun, but a s, soon as they are approached, they
quickly retire into the burrow.
The note of our bird is. strikingly similar"-tG- -the cry of the Marmot,
which sounds, like cheh,<chek, pronounced? several times in rapid
succession;;: tand;.were; it ;nbt that the Burrowing Owls of the West
Indies, where no Marmots exist,vutter the same sound, it might be
inferred, that the Marmot was the unintentional tutor to the young
Owl: this cry is only uttéreduas'-the: b ird : begins its flight. Vieillot
states that the Burrowing Owl inhabiting St. Domingo, sometimes
alights on farm-houses at night, and. produces a^note which resembles
that .of the syllables hoo, hoo, but has he not mistaken a
nocturnal spfecies for it in this case^**