. A popular handbook of the birds of the United States and Canada . ot long survive the lossof liberty, and pertinaciously refuse to eat, —a habit very differ-ent from that of the young Red Owl, who allowed himself tofeed from my hand, and tugged greedily and tamely at themorsel held out to him until he got it in his possession ; smallbirds also he would instantly grasp in his talons, and hiss andshaie, shate, when any attempt was made to deprive him of hisbooty. The young of this species, when they have just attained theirgrowth, are, in France, considered good food, as they are thenfat and p
. A popular handbook of the birds of the United States and Canada . ot long survive the lossof liberty, and pertinaciously refuse to eat, —a habit very differ-ent from that of the young Red Owl, who allowed himself tofeed from my hand, and tugged greedily and tamely at themorsel held out to him until he got it in his possession ; smallbirds also he would instantly grasp in his talons, and hiss andshaie, shate, when any attempt was made to deprive him of hisbooty. The young of this species, when they have just attained theirgrowth, are, in France, considered good food, as they are thenfat and plump. When first hatched they are so white anddowny as almost entirely to resemble a powder puff. AtHudsons Bay a large Owl, resembling the cinereous, is like-wise eaten, and esteemed a delicacy, according to Pennant. The Barn Owl occurs regularly from the Middle States south-ward, though it is not abundant north of South Carolina. A fewixamples have been taken in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and>Ar. Mcllwraith reports that four have been taken in FLORIDA BURROWING OWL. Speotyto cunicularia floridana. Char. Above, grayish brown spotted and barred with white ; below,pale buffish barred with brown; a patch of white on the breast; legs longand slender, and covered with buffish bristles. Length about lo inches. Nest. At the end of a burrow in the ground, lined with grass andfeathers. Eggs. 4-10; white, varying in shape, usually nearly round; This variety, which is found in Florida only, is smaller and lighter-colored than is the well-known bird of the prairies. In habits thetwo differ little, the Florida birds living in communities, —sometimesseveral pairs in one burrow, — and feeding on mice and small tales related of Burrowing Owls and rattlesnakes occupyingthe same burrow are hunters tales, and lack confirmation. Note. — The Western form of the Burrowing Owl (^S. cuni-cularia hypogcEa, has been taken in Massachusetts; but its occur-re
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1905
