CATALOGUE OF THE BIRDS OF SUFFOLK 41 



Generally distributed in Suffolk, but much less common 

 than the preceding ; a bird of the wooded districts. Feeds 

 mostly on smaller mammalia, as rats, field mice ? and moles, 

 but also on birds and even fish. 



Long-eared Owl, Otus vulgaris, Fleming. 



S. and W. Cat. 8. — Spald. List xxxv. Thinly dispersed, 

 frequenting plantations of spruce firs. 



Districts all. Eecorded as common near Beccles (S. and W. u. s.), 

 Lowestoft (Freeman v. v.), and Elveden where it is the most plentiful 

 species of owl (Newton in Hewitson, Eygs Brit. Birds, 3rd Ed. p. 56) ; 

 as not common near Aldeburgh (Hele, Aid. 78), and Oakley (W. Clarke 

 MS ); as rare about Yarmouth (Paget, Y. 3), Bramford (Haward MS.), 

 Cockfield (C. B. !), Sudbury (King, List), Gazeley (Tearle MS.), and 

 Monks Wood, Felsham (F. Clarke v. v.). Specimens recorded from various 

 other places. Nests observed at Beccles and Staverton Park (S. and W. u. 

 s.), Iken (F. Spalding MS.), Friston (Hele, Aid. 78), Great Bealings 

 (E.C.Moor in Z. 2nd S. 2606), Sutton (F. Spalding MS.), N acton 

 Heath, 1882 (Podd v. v.), Elveden (Newton Ooth. Woll. 155), Dalhamin 

 1882-3 (Tearle in Hit,), and near Westleton (Stev. B of N. i. 46-47). 



Generally distributed in the wooded districts, much more 

 common in some localities than in others, but for the most 

 part not abundant. A pied specimen was killed in the 

 neighbourhood of Burgh near Yarmouth in July 1861, and 

 is in the collection of the Rev. C. J. Lucas (Stev. B. of N. 

 i. 47).* Has been known to lay in the old nests of the 

 squirrel (Newton u. $.), and the carrion crow (F. Spalding 

 MS.). Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear (u.s.) saw as many as 

 seven of these birds together, which on being disturbed took 

 their flight high in the air like hawks. 



Short-eared Owl, Otus brachyoius (Forster). 



S. and W. Cat. 7. — Spald. List, xxxv. Common in 

 October on the coast. 



Districts all. Recorded as common from Yarmouth in Oct. (Paget, 

 T. 4), Lowestoft (Freeman v.v.), Aldeburgh in the autumn (Hele Aid. 

 77), Walton (Kerry MS J, Woodbridge (T. Carthew v.v.), Felixstowe 

 (Kerry MS.) ; as not uncommon at Lavenham (W. M. White v.v.), 

 and about Melford (Capt. Bence v.v.) as occasionally found at Oakley 



* Mr. J. H. Gurney (in litt.) says that this is evidently a young bird which had 

 recently left the nest. 



F 



