14 THE BIRDS OF DORSET. 



down a hollow ash-tree at Chalmington, he came 

 upon an owl's nest containing two young owlets, for 

 whose benefit the old pair had stowed away two 

 nearly full-grown rats, a dozen mice, a couple of 

 young rabbits, and three birds." 



LOXG-EAEED O'WL. Asio otus, (L.) 



Yarrell, i. p. 158; Dresser, v. p. 251 ; Ibis List, p. S6 ; Otus 

 vulgaris, Harting, p. 8 ;i Strix otus, Seeholirn, i. p. 160 ; Pul- 

 teney^s List, p. 4. 



The Long-eared Owl is less abundant than either of 

 the two preceding species, being more restricted to 

 the wooded districts of the county, notably the 

 Chase Woods, Milton, Houghton, and Middlemarsh 

 Grange Woods.- A nest containing four owlets of 

 this species was taken near West Lodge in 1865. 



SHORT -EARED OWL. Asio acciintrinus, (Pallas). 



Yarrell, i. p. 163; Dresser, v. p. 257; Otus bracliyotus, £ari'- 

 ing, p. 8; Strix brachyotus, Seeholim, i. p. 167; Pulteney's 

 List, p. 4 ; Asio bracliyotus. Ibis List, p. 86. 



The Short-eared Owl is an autumnal visitant, arriv- 

 ing about the end of October. It used to breed in 

 the fen-lands of the eastern counties, and, unlike the 

 other owls, its nest is exposed and built upon the • 

 ground. It is locally called the "Woodcock Owl," 

 arriving about the same time as that bird. Speci- 

 mens have been obtained, amongst other places, at 

 Bridport, Moreton, and Bryanston, the last in Vis- 

 count Portman's collection. 



