99 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



the ground ; and, according to Eichardson, in the fur regions it sometimes lays 

 its eggs in that manner, at other times in the deserted nests of other birds, on 

 low bushes. Mr. Hutchins speaks of its depositing them as early as April. 

 Richardson received one found in May ; and another nest was observed, in 

 the same neighborhood, which contained three eggs on the 5th of Jul3^ 

 Wilson speaks of this Owl as having been abundant in his day in the vicin- 

 ity of Philadelphia, and of six or seven having been found in a single tree. 

 He also mentions it as there breeding among the branches of tall trees, and 

 in one particular instance as having taken possession of the nest of a Qua 

 Bird {Nydiardea gardeni), where Wilson found it sitting on four eggs, while 

 one of the Herons had her own nest on the same tree. Audubon states 

 that it usually accommodates itself by making use of the abandoned nests 

 of other birds, whether these are built liigh or low. It also makes use of 

 the fissures of rocks, or builds on the ground. 



As this Owl is known to breed early in April, and as numerous instances 

 are given of their eggs being taken in July, it is probable they have two 

 broods in a season. Mr. J. S. Brandigee, of Berlin, Conn., found a nest 

 early in April, in a hemlock-tree, situated in a thick dark evergreen woods. 

 The nest was flat, made of coarse sticks, and contained four fresh eggs 

 when the parent was shot. 



Mr. Ridgway found this Owl to be very abundant in the Sacramento Valley, 

 as well as throughout the Great Basin, in both regions inhabiting dense \\i\- 

 low copses near the streams. In the interior it generally lays its eggs in tlie 

 deserted nests of the Magpie. 



The eggs of this Owl, when fresh, are of a brilliant white color, with a 

 slight pinkish tinge, which they preserve even after having been blown, if 

 kept from the light. They are of a rounded-oval shape, and obtuse at either 

 end. They vary considerably in size, measuring from 1.65 to 1.50 inches in 

 length, and fi^om 1.30 to 1.35 inches in breadth. Two eggs, taken from the 

 same nest by Rev. C. M. Jones, have the following measurements : one 1.60 

 by 1.34 inches, the other 1.50 by 1.30 inches. 



Otus (Brachyotus) brachyotus, Steph. 



SHORT-EARED OWL; MARSH OWL. 



Strix hracMjotus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. 289, 1789. — Forst. Phil. Trans. LXII, 384. — Wils. 

 Am. Orn. pi. xxxiii, f. 3. — Aud. Birds Am. pi. ccccxxxii, 1831. — Ib. Orn. Biog. V, 

 273. — Rich. & Swains. F. B. A. II, 75. — Bonap. Ann. Lye. N. Y. 11, 37. — Thomps. 

 N. H. Vermont, p. 66. — Peab. Birds Mass. p. 89. Uliila brachyotus, James. (Wils.), 

 Am. Orn. I, 106, 1831. — Nutt. Man; 132. Otus brachyotus, (Steph.) Jaud. (Wils.), 

 Am. Orn. 11,63, 1832. — Peale, U. S. Expl. Exp. VIII, 75. — Kaup, Monog. Strig. 

 Cont. Orn. 1852, 114. — Ib. Tr. Zool. Soc. IV, 1859, 236. —Hudson, P. Z. S. 1870, 

 799 (habits). Asia brachyotus, Strickl. Orn. Syn. 1, 259, 1855. Otus brachyotus 

 aviericaMus, Max. Cab. Jour. II, 1858, 27. Brachyotus palustris, Bonap. List. 1838, 

 p. 7. — Rinaw. in Coues, Key, 1872, 204. Otus palustris, (Darw.) De Kay, Zool. 



