168 BRITISH BIRDS. 
throughout the United States, where a few remain to breed, some passing 
still further south to Central America, the West Indies, and tropical South 
America. It has been found throughout South America, breeding at Buenos 
Ayres and Patagonia and probably throughout the Chilian subregion. The 
South-American birds are probably also partial migrants, and in their 
winter-quarters may meet the birds from North America. 
The habits of the Short-eared Owl are very different from those of any 
other British species, and thus lend an additional interest to the bird. 
Unlike the other members of this gloom-loving family of birds, the present 
species rarely in this country frequents woods or plantations, nor does 
it haunt ruins, barns, or hollow trees. Its home is in the exposed and 
open parts of the country, the broad-stretching meadow-lands and turnip- 
fields, commons and dense furze-brakes, sedgy marshlands and the flat 
uninviting and monotonous fens. From its peculiar habit of frequenting 
the open, the Short-eared Owl is perhaps more often seen than any other 
Owl; and it is from this circumstance that the bird is considered to 
be numerous and widely diffused. Although generally a migratory bird, 
a few are permanently resident in suitable districts—where it was formerly 
a far more common resident than it is at the present day, being now only 
represented in the summer by a few straggling pairs. 
The great autumn migration of the Short-eared Owl takes place in 
October, from the second week to the end of the month, the time during 
which the Woodcock also makes its appearance. From this cireum- 
stance and from the fact that both the birds choose similar haunts upon 
their arrival here, the Short-eared Owl has gained for itself the name 
of ‘* Woodcock-Owl.”  Short-eared Owls- migrate in companies, and, 
in fact, are more or less gregarious during the whole of the winter, as 
many as twenty birds having been flushed within a comparatively small 
space of ground. ‘The flight-nets on the Lincolnshire coast unerringly 
proclaim the advent of this Owl upon our shores; and during the mi- 
gration period it is one of the commonest birds taken in them. Short-eared 
Owls migrate at night ; and they do not seem to fly at any great height 
above the waves whilst pursuing their journey, for these nets are but a 
few feet from the surface of the sea. Strangely enough, however, their 
companion the Woodcock is seldom, very seldom taken in the nets, leading 
us to suppose that it flies much higher through the air and drops suddenly 
down from above as soon as the shore is reached. Upon its arrival 
here the Short-eared Owl betakes itself to turnip-fields, stubbles, the 
sides of hedgerows, or the tall herbage on the banks of a stream, and dry 
ditches overgrown with coarse vegetation. Upon being flushed it flies 
quickly off with undulating motion, swaying its body from side to side 
alternately, much after the manner of the smaller Gulls. This Owl is 
perhaps less incommoded by the light than any other species, and may 
poe! 
