Birds of Britain 



easily be overlooked. It flies out at dusk and ranges the 

 fields near woods for its prey. 



In the northern parts of Scotland it is a regular migrant^ 

 but elsewhere within these islands it is resident, though 

 immigrations from the Continent occur every year. It is a 

 very silent bird, but occasionally gives rise to a short mellow 

 bark. 



The sexes resemble each other and are bufiish, heavily 

 speckled and vermiculated with dark brown, ashy, and white. 

 The markings of the young are yellowish, and warmer in 

 tint. The name is derived from two longish tufts of feathers 

 above the facial disc, which can be erected at will. Length 

 14 in.; wing 11 '5 in. 



THE SHORT-EARED OWL 



Asio accipitrinus (Pallas) 



Unlike the preceding species, this bird inhabits fens,, 

 marshes, and open moorlands. In Scotland it nests fairly 

 commonly, but in England it is decidedly rare and local as. 

 a breeding species, while it has never been known to breed 

 in Ireland. 



The nest is placed on the ground, at the foot of a small 

 bush in long sedge, or among heather. No real nest is 

 made, but a few bits of grass or heather are arranged round 

 the eggs. These are usually five in number, and, like all 

 Owls' eggs, pure white. In some seasons these Owls be- 

 come much more abundant in certain places, due generally 



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