318 SHORT-EARED OWL. 



Color. Adull. Above, dark-bvowa, witli the feathers edged, mottled, spotted, and barred with ycllfiwi-h-rufous. 

 Rump, wholly yellowish-rufous, barred with dusky. Wings, dnrk-lirown, barred with yellowish-rufuus, which becomes 

 li"-hter on the inner webs and nearly wl..ce, below. Tail, also dark-brown, barred with yellowish-rufuus which becomes 

 lin-hter on the outer feathers and nearly white on the lower side, lieneath, including under wing and tail coverts, tibia 

 and tarsus, yellowish-white, streaked with dark-brown on the body. There is a prominent spot of dark-brown on the un- 

 der wing coverts near the outer edge. The face is white, mixed with dusky and a ring of dark-brown entirely surrounds 

 the eye. 



Younfj. Similar to the adult but show much, more rufous on the upjier surfoce while the same color predominates on 

 the lower portions. 



Nest/in<j.i. Are at first covered with a yellow down and, in time, gradually assume the second plumage. Iris, yellow, 

 cere, greenish, liiU and claws, dark-brown, in all stages. Sexes, similar in color. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Specimens of the same age and sex are usually quite uniform in color, for Owls, but some skins obtained by Mr. Wm. 

 Brewster and myself, in Summer at !Muskeget, a sandy island (iff the South Shore of Massachusetts, are so much bleached 

 as to appear nearly white in the distance. This is, however, merely the result of exposure to the sun in an unsheltered 

 situation, where they were constantly resident. Readily known from the succeeding species by the short ear tufts and 

 light tints, and from all others by the long wings, comljined with the colors as described. Distributed, a,s a constant resi- 

 dent, throughout the entire extent of North America, also found in the Old World. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements ofumle specimens. Length, M"25; stretch, 3y'.50; wing, 1'2'70; tail, 6-20; bill, 'SS; tareu.->, 

 1-60. Longest s|iecimen, 15'00; greatest extent of wing, 41-00; longest wing, 13-00: tail, K-40; bill, 1-00; tai-sus, 1-75 

 Shortest specimen, U-50; smallest extent of wing, 38-00; shortest wing, \2:i(i; tail, 5-90; bill, -70; tarsus, 1-50. 



Average measurements of female specimens. Length, 14-50; stretch, 40-00; wing, 13-00; tail, 6-30; bill, -90; tarsus, 

 1-80. Longest specimen, 15-50; greatest extent of wing, 4-2-00; longest wing, 13-50; tail, fi-60; hill, MO; tarsus, 1-90. 

 Shortest specimen, 15-00; smallest extent of wing, 39-00; shortest wing, 12-50; tail, O'OO; bill, -80; tarsus, 1-70. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Ncs/s, are often bulky structures placed either on the ground or in low bushes. They are composed of sticks, twigs, 

 grass, etc., lined with grass and leaves. 



&//S, f mr or five: in number, quite ellijitical in form, white in color, with the surface very smooth. Dimensions from 

 1-20x1-50 to 1 25x 1-50. 



HABITS. 



As M, rnlo, Owls prefer wooded sections or, if they do not. as is the case of the Barn 

 Owl, tlioy will hitle in holes of rocks or in deserted buildings but the species of which I am 

 now writing, has a decided predilection for the open country, usually choosing marshes or 

 barren sections near the sea shore; in fact, they are quite uiicommon elsewhere and, al- 

 though I have seen scores of Short-eared Owls, I have met with only one in the interior. 

 They are fond of resorting to hill-sides, grown up to low bushes among which they hide, 

 emerging l)y night to feed on mice or small birds which they procure by hawking over the 

 marshes, flying at a, considerable height, but when they perceive the object for which they 

 are hunting, they wi41 suspend themselves in air for a moment, after the manner of King- 

 fishers, then will drop perpendicularly upon their victims, seldom missing their aim, after 

 which they will remain on the ground to eat them. 



I had an excellent opportunity of studying the habits of these Owls when camping, 

 in company with Mr. Brewster and another friend who has since passed away, on the is- 

 land (^f JNIuskeget during the early part of July, 1870. This little islet which is situated 

 between Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, is low, sandy and, in places, quite destitute of 

 vegetation, while a scant out-cropping of beach grass may be seen on the sides and. tops of 



