38 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
the northern part of the kingdom,* is a migratory 
species, arriving about the middle of October and 
retiring again towards March. The greater numbers 
seem generally to be taken in October and No- 
vember, at which time they are found in the turnip- 
fields and long grass, and ferny or rushy places. 
They never perch, but always sit humped up on the 
ground, crouched away under the covert. At times 
these Owls seem to make their appearance in much 
greater numbers than usual, the cause of which un- 
usual appearance has been traced to an equally 
unusual increase in the number of mice: on one 
occasion this seems to have been the case near 
Bridgwater, mice having appeared there in such vast 
quantities as to destroy a large portion of the vege- 
tation, and in that autumn a very great number of 
Shorteared Owls resorted to that part in order to 
prey upon them.t 
I again have recourse to M. Prevost’s series for 
the food of this species: he says 
“ January, mice ; 
February, harvest mice; March, mice; April, crickets 
and field mice; May, shrew mice and cockchaffers ; 
June, beetles; July, field mice and birds; August, 
field mice and shrews; September, field mice and 
beetles; October, the same; November, common 
* They have been known to breed as far south as 
Norfolk. See Yarrell, vol i., p. 187. 
+ Montagu’s Dictionary, by Newman. 
