THE SHORT-EARED OWL. 



lARSH OWL, Meadow 

 Owl, and Prairie Owl, 

 are some of tlie names of 

 this species of an 

 interesting family, 

 which is found throughout North 

 America at large, though in greater 

 numbers in the Arctic regions during 

 the nesting season than in the United 

 States. It is believed that no land bird 

 has so extensive a range as this species, 

 occurring, as it does, throughout all 

 the grand divisions of the earth's sur- 

 face, except Australia. In America it 

 is found everywhere in favorable local- 

 ities, from Alaska and Greenland to 

 Cape Horn. Truly a cosmopolitan 

 bird, observed by the inhabitants of 

 nearly all countries. 



The Short-eared Owl is seen in the 

 marshes, the thickets of bottom lands, 

 and Davie says it seems to be particu- 

 larly common in the tall weeds and 

 grass of fields and meadows. In the 

 west it is found on the extensive 

 prairies, along sloughs, hiding in the 

 day time among the sage bushes and 

 tall grass. It is a night wanderer, but 

 often hunts its food on dark days, and 

 field mice, moles, shrews, and other 

 small rodents are captured by it while 

 on noiseless wing, or while standing 

 motionless watching for its prey. 



The nest of the Short-eared Owl is 

 made on the ground in the matted 

 grass of marsh land ; sometimes in a 

 depression at the foot of a bush, beside 

 a log, or in a burrow made by a rabbit 

 or a muskrat. A few sticks, soft 



grasses, and some of its own feathers 

 usually comprise the nest proper, 

 though the eggs are not infrequently 

 laid on the bare ground. These are 

 from four to seven, white and oval. 

 In Ohio they are laid in April, some- 

 times as early as the latter part of 

 March, or as late as the middle of May, 

 within which dates it doubtless may 

 be found breeding throughout the 

 United States. 



Mr. Nelson says that this is the most 

 abundant species of the Owl family. 

 They are common everywhere in Illi- 

 nois during the winter, remaining 

 concealed in a bunch of grass or weeds 

 until almost two o'clock p. m., when 

 they commence flying low over the 

 ground in search of food. When 

 approached, while standing on the 

 ground, they crouch and try to escape 

 observation. They are harmless and 

 are easily tamed, and as a rule, are 

 silent. Mr. Nelson heard one of the 

 birds, in Alaska, utter rapidly a loud 

 cry which sounded like the syllables 

 Hoo, hoo, hoo^ hoo^ in a higher key than 

 the note of the Horned Owl, and in a 

 a much less sonorous tone. When 

 alarmed for their young, they have been 

 heard to utter a shrill hollow cry, and 

 at the same time make quite a noise 

 by spitefully snapping their bills. 



We fancy the Owl family alone will 

 enable Birds to furnish a collection 

 of pictures — perhaps forty in number — 

 that will fascinate the bird lover, and 

 make him eager to possess other 

 groups for study, wonder, and delight. 



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