68 THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 



the lakes and west Cumberland, but becomes more 

 numerous towards the Scottish border. 



A. Brachyotus. Short-eared Owl. 



The Short-eared Owl is a widely-distributed win- 

 ter visitant, arriving from Scandinavia in October, 

 and scattering over our mosses for the winter. 

 Large flights occasionally linger for a few weeks 

 in autumn among the sandhills of the coast. A 

 few pairs often linger in spring to breed, instead 

 of departing northward ; but, unhappily, adults and 

 young are generally killed off. Thus, in 1884, a 

 pair of adults were shot on Sol way Flow at the 

 end of May ; a brood of young were taken near 

 Bowness ; and two nests of young birds, together 

 with the parents, were killed by a keeper in the 

 Bewcastle district. Mr. Hancock mentions the 

 occurrence of a young bird at Brampton, and others 

 have occurred near Alston. A nestling taken on 

 Lowmoor, Aspatria, lived for some years in the 

 possession of J. Smith of Bassenthwaite, and was 

 a tame and interesting pet. 



Genus SYRNIUM. 



S. Aluco. Tawny Owl. 



The Tawny Owl is an abundant resident, nest- 

 ing freely in wooded districts. From its habit of 

 mousing on railway lines, this Owl is often felled 

 by locomotives. Grey and ferruginous birds inter- 

 breed, but the latter form predominates. 



