62 The Scottish Naturalist. 



destroy in a season, which, had they been permitted to live, 

 would have been far more destructive to the young game than 

 the owl. Therefore let the sportsman save his shot, and desist 

 from firing at some poor owl which, half-asleep and stupid, is 

 suddenly driven out of some thick tree during cover-shooting, 

 affording an easy and unfailing shot even to the tyro, — a practice 

 which I fear is far too common. 



1 6. Bubo maximus, Sibb. (Eagle Owl.) 



One shot near Pitlochry was a bird escaped from confinement. 

 See ' Scottish Naturalist,' ii. 58, and iii. 359. 



] 7. Otus vulgaris, Flem. (Long-Eared Owl.) 



The Long-Eared Owl, though found at most seasons in our 

 woods, is far more abundant in the autumn months, when large 

 accessions to its numbers reach us from the Continent ; and a 

 very striking instance of this was mentioned to me- by Admiral 

 Maitland Dougal, who, when shooting some covers near Scots 

 Craig on the borders of the lower part of the Tay, in the month 

 of October two or three years ago, in company with some 

 other guns, fell in with a large flock of birds, numbering, as far 

 as he could judge, about seventy, which suddenly rose off the 

 trees some little distance before them. Some shots were fired 

 at them by the party, supposing them to be woodcock. Several 

 of them fell, which, on being picked up, proved to their great 

 surprise to be Long-Eared Owls. This occurring close to the 

 coast, they had no doubt but recently arrived, and had not had 

 sufficient time to disperse. 



18. Brachyotus palustris, Bechst. (Short-Eared Owl.) 



The Short-Eared Owl, which is more diurnal in its habits, fre- 

 quents the more open ground on moors and marshy places, and 

 never in woods, like the Long-Eared. It is rather a scarce bird in 

 the district, but every now and again it is met with, though, as 

 far as I can learn, only in the autumn, when on its passage. It 

 is not at all unlikely, however, that it breeds on some of the more 

 retired parts of the moors, as it is known to do in several places, 

 both in England and Scotland. 



( To he continued.) 



