ASIO CAPENSIS. Gl 
distinguished by tlie irides, wliicli are yellow in the present 
species, and hazel in the Cape-Owl." — Favier. 
The above story about the hybrids is difficult to believe, 
and is to my mind apocryphal ; however, it is given for what 
it may be worth. I confess I am very sceptical as to the 
assertions made about the interbreeding of different species 
in an absolute state of nature, excepting only the Gallinse ; 
but most hybrids among these are produced under circum- 
stances of acclimatization which can hardly be called a really 
wild state. 
The Short-eared Owl may nest so far south, but as far as 
my observations go, is in Andalucia only a winter resident, 
and even then not very abundant. I should have omitted 
this story of Favier^s but for its having appeared in print 
before. 
43. Asio CAPENSIS (Smith). Marsh-Owl. 
Moorish. El ham a. 
" Is a common resident near Tangier, usually frequenting 
wet swampy ground, feeding chiefly on insects. Some pass 
over to Europe in March and April, returning in November 
and December. They nest on the ground in April or May, 
laying four, rarely five, round white eggs, sometimes marked 
with a few rusty spots. The young are are not always hatched 
at the same time, as in the same nest may be found young 
birds of different growths." — Favier. 
My experiences of this Owl in Spain are very limited, and 
as follows: — In October 1868, on my first visit to Casa Vieja, 
when looking for snipe in one of the wettest parts of the Mill 
soto, two Owls rose at my feet, which I shot, winging one, 
which I carried home alive to take to Gibraltar, seeing at 
once from the bluish black colour of the irides that I had got 
an Owl which I did not know. Afterwards hunting about, 
only one more was seen, and killed. On the 10th of Novem- 
ber following, during my second visit, I saw three more, two 
of which I winged and also carried off alive to Gibraltar, 
keeping them there for some time, till one got out and flew 
off as if nothing was the matter with it ; so I sent the other 
