The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1888-11-01
QUEER BIRDS.
Pecutiarities OF Some Members OF
the Feathered Tribe.
The Sociabie Little Owl-Dissolute and
Lazy Character of the ~Cuckoo-Inter-
esting Accounts of the Buphaga,
Seresmer and Secretary Birds.

There arc few visitors to the coun-
lry districts of this State who have not
been amused by noticing the sedate
antics of sundry sun-dried little owls
who, perched upon the rail fence or
near hillocks, bow grayely to The
passers by. They are by no means shy,
or, perhaps, their apparent want of
.timidity is due to their Door sight; at
any rate they a be easily knocked
over, When shot, however, they are
found to be very poor game-not much
better than carrion. As they stand
blinking and ducking by the roadside
they look to be quite a decent-sized
bird, but when examined after being
shot they are found to be seventy per
cent. feathers. Worse than that. these
feathers are fall of lice, and altogether
the owl is found to be a very dirty and
disappointing game. Another peculiar
lty to be remarked concerning these
birds is that they are always found in
localities that are infested by gophers
Or prairie dogs, and a little patient OBJ
servation will show that gophers and
owls or prairie dogs and owls live to-
gether as a hybrid community.
The owl known us tho burrowing
owl, and though any thing but an at
Eractive creature, is to be commended
Tor the wisdom it has shown in the
selection OF its home. The hole of the
prairie dog is quite a pleasant place,
cool in summer and warm in winter,
and that of the gopher is very much
like 1t. From the entrance the pas
sage into the mound descends vertical
ly for one Or two feet, and is thence
continued obliquely downward, until
1t terminates in the living apartment.
1t is globular in form, and generally
compactly lined with dried grass.
What the exact terms of the community
are, is not known, but il is evident that
the members live on terms of peace
and good will. 1t is certain, too, that
the owls live intimately with the
rodents, and that they lay their eggs
and bring up their young in the holes.
Whether the rodents lay toll on the
eggs for rent or the owls occasionally
take a nip at the young squirrels or
gophers not be said, but both sup
positions are possible. 1t is a curious
fact that the cry of the owl, cheh,
cheh! pronounced several times in
rapid succession. is that of the rodent
= with whom he associates and that some
tutoring is evidently going IN.
The American burrowing owls are
found west OF the rocky Mountains, be-
ing especially numerous on the plains
OF the great plateau. They are strictly
dlurnal and feed on gr~asshoppers,
crickets and mice.
A much less agreeable bird Is the
cuckoo. Notwithstanding all the fine
things that have been written about
the "harbinger Of spring." the cuckoo
is a dissolute, dishonest and lazy bird.
de never builds a nest for himself, but
has the singular fashion of laying an
egg IN the most convenient nest OF some
other bird, leaving the care of tho
young n to the foster parents thus
selected. Though the egg is rather a
small one the young cuckoo grows
rapidly and reaches u good size, while
the legitimate occupants Of tho nest
are still unable to look after them
selves, No n does the intruder