218 Pictures of Bird Life 



This Owl is known as the ^larsh-owl in this district, and 

 often elsewhere as the A\'o()dcock-owl. It is a migratory 

 species, arri\'ing from Scandhiavia about tlie same time as 

 the AVoodcock. But in suitable localities, such as this, it 

 nests in small numbers. It is much more diurnal in its 

 habits than any of our other owls ; and instead of nesting in 

 hollow trees and ruins, always does so on the ground among 

 sedge or heather. Though comparatively scarce as a general 

 rule, whenever any part of the country is de^-astated by 

 a plague of voles, then these Owls, witli the wonderful 

 instinct of most birds in discovering any unusual abundance 

 of food, tiock to the affected spot in great numbers, and 

 remain there as long as the supply of food is sufficient 

 for them, when they disappear as mysteriously as they 

 arrived. 



The so-called " ears " of tlie Short-eared Owl and the 

 Long-eared Owl are, of course, not " ears " at all. being 

 merely tufts of feathers, in no way connected with tlie 

 organ of hearing. The true ear is an immense and com- 

 plicated cavity, occupying nearly the whole side of tlie 

 head, and concealed by the short feathers of the facial disk. 

 The illustration shows the ear-cavity of a Short-eared Owl, 

 taken, of course, from a dead specimen. By lifting up the 

 movable mask, or facial disk, and pinning it back, the 

 large extent of the true organs of hearing may be plainly 

 seen. This bird is a particularly silent one. Beyond a 

 hissing and a clapping or snapping of the beak, it appears 

 to make no sound whatever. 



