SHORT-EARED AND TAWNY OWLS 73 



nest of its own, but appropriates the deserted nest of a Crow 



Magpie, or Squirrel. 

 Materials Used. — See above. 



Eggs. — Four or Five. White; oval in shape; 1.65 by 1.3 inch. 

 Food. — Voles, mice, sparrows, young birds, and insects. 

 Voice. — Call, " mew; " " yack! yack! " or a loud bark on the wing. 



A snapping of the bill when defiant, and a hissing noise is made 



by the young. 

 Chief Features. — Distinguished by the long " ears," after which it has 



been named. Not so common as the Barn and Tawny Owls. 

 Plumage. — Blackish beak ; orange-yellow eyes ; buff on upper parts, 



with mottlings of grey and brown, and dark-brown streaks; 



facial disk buff, greyish-black on margin and outer rim; warm 



buff and grey underneath, streaked with blackish and small 



transverse bars. Length. — Fifteen inches. 



OWL, SHORT-EARED (Asio brachyotus) 



Local Names. — Hawk Owl, Horned Oolert or Howlet, Marsh Owl, 

 Mouse Hawk, Mouse Owl, Short-Horned Howlet, Short-Horned 

 Owl, Woodcock Owl, Woodcock Pilot. 



Haunt. — Fens, moors, heaths, and large fields. 



Nesting Period. — April and May. 



Site of Nest. — On the ground among sedge or heather. 



Materials Used. — Hardly any. Perhaps a few sedge leaves or reeds. 



Eggs. — Four to Seven. White; oval in shape; 1.6 by 1.28 inch. 

 Very similar to those of the Long-Eared species. 



Food. — Voles for the most part, also other small mammals and birds. 



Voice. — A harsh cry and a shrill scream ; snaps beak violently when 

 young are approached. 



Chief Features. — Diurnal in its habits. Nests in the North ; a Winter 

 visitor only in the South. Appears in the Autumn about the 

 same time as the Woodcock, hence names of Woodcock Owl 

 and Pilot. Feather tufts on head less noticeable than in 

 Long-Eared Owl. 



Plumage. — Face whitish; beak black; iris yellow; small black 

 feather tufts on head; blackish-brown circles round eyes; 

 dusky -brown, with yellow edgings, above; dull-yellow ink- 

 brown streaks underneath. Length. — Fifteen inches. 



OWL, TAWNY (Syrnium aluco) 



Local Names. — Black Owl, Brown Owl, Grey Owl, Hoot Owl, 

 Howlet, Ivy Owl, Jenny Howlet, Jinny Oolet, 'Ollering Owl, 

 Wood Owl. 



Haunt. — Woods, commons, and parks. 



