114 SHORT-EARED OWL. 



This handsome Owl remains all the year, and is probably, 

 more common in the wooded districts of the county than is 

 generally supposed, for, owing to its shy, retired, and nocturnal 

 habits, it is seldom seen. It builds in the old drey of the squirrel, 

 or in a deserted Magpie's nest, and its food, M. Prevost says, 

 consists of mice, shrews, rats, squirrels, cockchafers, and beetles. 

 The two birds mentioned by Dr. Altum were two species of 

 Titmouse. 



A specimen of Long-eared Owl was killed at Widemarsh, close 

 to Hereford, in 1878, and another was shot at Lyde, two miles off, 

 in 1 88 1. The specimen in the Hereford Museum was killed at 

 Wilton, near Ross. 



A nest of this Owl, with five young ones, was found near 

 Aymestry, in March, 1884; and in the same place there was a 

 second brood at the end of June. 



ASIO BRACHYOTUS— Short-eared Owl. 

 [Asw accipitrinus — Yarrell?\ 



What time the preying Owl with sleepy wing 

 Sweeps o'er the cornfield studious. 



HuRDis— T/te Favorite Village. 



This migrating Owl arrives for the winter from the north in 

 October, frequenting fields, moors, and heather. It seldom perches, 

 but rests on the ground in long grass, or in the turnip fields ; and in 

 Herefordshire, it is more frequently met with in some years, than 

 others, but it is always rare. M. Prevost found its food to consist 

 of mice, cockchafers, crickets, beetles, and other insects, with small 

 birds occasionally. Partridge shooters not unfrequently meet with 

 the Short-eared Owl. 



