STRIGID^, 5 



Datchet, who had preserved it. He informed me 

 that it was the only bird of this species he ever saw 

 in either of the two counties. 



I have been told by Mrs. Hussey, of Brenthurst, 

 Sussex, that some twenty years ago this Harrier 

 used to be a common bird in Buckinghamshire, but 

 it is to be regretted that this species, along with 

 many of our nobler birds of prey, has now almost 

 entirely disappeared from districts where it used 

 formerly to be abundant. This is probably owing 

 to the great increase in the number of gamekeepers, 

 who, of course, kill every hawk they can 'get a sight 

 on,' even the harmless Nightjar being occasionally 

 included as a hawk in the * museums ' of such 

 worthies. The Hen Harrier has occurred at Chesham 

 and near Cookham, and it has been observed flying 

 over Langley Park at such a low altitude as to 

 enable the beholder to ascertain the species. 



Family — Strigid^E. 



Long-eared Owl {Ot?(s vulgaris). Local names. 

 Long-ears, Brown Owl, Horned OzuL This is a 

 tolerably common species in most parts of the two 

 counties. Although a nocturnal feeder, I have on 

 several occasions put up a Long-eared Owl by day, 

 and have even observed one of these birds flying 

 along the hedge-rows in broad daylight. 



Owls of this species are numerous in Windsor 



