STRIGID^E — THE UWLS. 



25 



case, between tlie American and European birds, does not correspond at all 

 to that between the two easily distinguished races of Otus vulgaris, Nijdalc 

 tcngmahiii, Surnia ulula, and Si/rnium cinereum. 



A specimen from Porto Rico (No. 39,G43) is somewhat remarkable on 

 account of the pre\-alence of the dusky of the upper parts, the unusually 

 few and narrow stripes of the same on the lower parts, the roundish ochra- 

 ceous spots on the wings, and in having the primaries barred to the base. 

 Sliould all other specimens from tiie same region agree in these characters, 

 they might form a diagnosable race. The plumage has an abnormal appear- 

 ance, however, and I much doubt whether others like it will ever be taken. 



H.\BITS. Tlie Short-eared Owl appears to be distributed, in varying fre- 

 quency, throughout North America, more abundant in the Arctic regions 

 during the summer, and more frequently met with in the United States dur- 

 ing the winter months. Eichardson met with it throughout the fur coun- 

 tries as far to the north as the 67th parallel. Professor HolboU gives it as a 

 bird of Greenland, and it was met with in considerable abundance by Jlac- 

 Farlane in the Anderson River district. Mr. Murray mentions a specimen 

 received from the wooded district between Hudson's Bay and Lake Winni- 

 peg. Captain Blakiston met with it on the coast of Hudson's Bay, and Mr. 

 Bernard Ross on the Mackenzie River. 



Mr. Dresser speaks of it as common at times near San Antonio during 

 the winter months, keeping itself in the tall weeds and grass. It is given 

 by Dr. Gundlach as an occasional visitant of Cuba. 



Dr. Newberry met with it throughout Oregon and California, and found it 

 especially common in the Klamath Basin. On the level meadow-like 

 prairies of the Upper Pitt River it was seen associating with the Marsh 

 Hawk in considerable numbers. It was generally concealed in the grass, 

 and rose as the party approached. He afterwards met with this bird on the 

 shores of Klamath Lake, and in the Des Chutes Basin, among grass and 

 sage-bushes, in those localities associated with the Burrowing Owl [A. hi/pu- 

 gcva). In Washington Territory it was found by Dr. Cooper on the great 

 Spokane Plain, where, as elsewiiere, it was commonly found in the long 

 grass during the day. In I'all and winter it appeared in large numbers on 

 the low prairies of the coast, Init was not gregarious. Though properly 

 nocturnal, it was met with, hunting on cloudy days, flying low o^•er the 

 meadows, in the manner of the Marsh Hawk. He did not meet with it in 

 summer in the Territory. 



Dr. Heermann found it aljundant in the Suisun and Napa valleys of Cali- 

 fornia, in equal numbers with the Strix pratincola. It sought shelter during 

 the day on the ground among the reeds, and, when startled from its hiding- 

 place, would fly but a few yards and alight again upon the ground. It did 

 not seem wild or shy. He afterwards met with the same s]iecies on the 

 desert between the Tejon Pass and the JMohave River, and again saw it on 

 the banks of the latter. Richardson gives it as a summer visitant only in 



VOL. ni. 4 



