NOTES ON THE KINGFISHKU AND SHORTEARED OWL. 117 



feature pourtraying at a glance the distinction of the sexes. This feature 

 is in the lower mandible. The female having at all ages the lower 

 half of the beak light brick-red and somewhat longer, — its entire plumage 

 being at the same time less intense blue, and more inclined to green in the 

 shade while the male has a uniform dark horn-coloured beak, both the 

 upper and lower mandibles, and decidedly shorter than that of the female. 

 If any one will take the trouble to follow me in this, it will be found a 

 never failing mark of identity in this species. 



The Shorteared Owl is an occasional visitant to our fens. I 

 have had every opportunity afforded me of making examinations of a great 

 number of fresh killed examples, and minute inspection of them has 

 rewarded me with a perfect triumph in respect of ascertaining the sexes 

 by external features. The only mark outwardly is the very observable rich 

 dark colouring of the female, and thicker streaks of black pervading its 

 entire plumage, whilst the male is very much lighter in colour, and only 

 faintly marked, (upon the heart particularly,) and is less rich in general 

 colouring. The face of the male is also much paler. 1 have never yet 

 seen this species properly figured or delineated ; the smaller quill feathers are 

 in every case represented as laying one over another as in the Hawk, while 

 this species never reposes but with these feathers brought down — overhang- 

 ing the greater quills — in a slanting direction. This is an observable 

 feature peculiar to the species, and in nearly every case this Owl is figured 

 sitting upon a tree, which is rarely, if ever, its true habit, as it perches, or 

 rests upon the ground, except in rare cases. I had very serious doubts, 

 some little time since, if it ever perched at all ; but through the extreme 

 kindness of my friends who have all most courteously rendered me their 

 experience, I have decided that this one usually reposes upon the ground, 

 but upon rare occasions is found to perch. The turnip field is an especial 

 favourite with this bird. I desire especially to return my thanks to my 

 ever kind and obliging correspondents, Sir W. M. Milner, Bart., and the 

 Rev. M. A. Matthews, &c., who have sent me many pleasing and valuable 

 notes upon this species. 



At no distant time, I purpose to find for these valuable pages a 

 continuance of these sexual distinctions, and sincerely hope they may nat 

 prove utterly devoid of interest to my brother naturalists. 



King's Lynn, Norfolk, July, 1861. 



