SIlOKT-EAKEl) OWL. 147 



great outcry among the Terns told where a tragedy was being enacted." 

 (Bull Nutt. Ornith. Ckib, vol. iv, 1870, p. 19.) 



The following important evidence of the economic value ot the Short- 

 eared Owl is from the fourth edition of Yarrell's British Birds (vol. iv, 

 p. 165) : "Undoubtedly field mice, and especially those of the short-tailed 

 group or voles, are their chief objects of prey, and when these animals 

 increase in an extraordinary and unaccountable way, as they sometimes 

 do, so as to become extremely mischievous, owls, particularly of this 

 species, flock to devour them. Thus there are records of '■ a sore plague 

 of strange mice ' in Kent and Essex in the year 1580 or 1581, and again 

 in the county last mentioned in 1648. In 1754 the same thing is said 

 to have occurred at Hilgay, near Downham Market, in Norfolk, while 

 within the present century the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestershire, and 

 some parts of Scotland have been similarly infested. In all these cases 

 owls are mentioned as thronging to the spot and rendering tli^^. greatest 

 service in extirpating the pests. The like has also been observed in 

 Scandinavia during the wonderful irruj)tions of lemmings and other 

 small rodents to which some districts are liable, and it would appear that 

 the Short-eared Owl is the species which plays a principal part in getting 

 rid of the destructive horde. An additional fact of some interest was 

 noticed by Wolley, namely, that under such circumstances the owls 

 seem to become more prolific than usual." 



The following species of mammals and birds have been jDositively 

 identified among the stomach contents: 



MAMMALS. BIRDS. 



ArvicoJa auxterus. Ar/elaiiis phocniceus. 



ArvicoJa jnnelorum. Quiscalits quiscula ceneua, 



Arvicoln ripariuK. Pooccetes. 



Blarina hrericanda. Spizella pusilla. 



Siiomys americanus. Jvnco hi/eutalis. 



Mas vmsctilus. MeJospisa {leorgiana. 



' Sorex. Fasserella iliaca. 



Eeithrodontomys. * Passer domesticus. 



Lepus sijlraficus, Merula migraioria. 

 Sigmodou hisjjidus. 



The nest is a rough affair made of coarse grass and sticks, loosely 

 drawn together and sparselyjined with fine material and feathers from 

 the parent bird. It is placed on the ground, often in a depression made 

 to receive it, under some bush or among high grass. In exceptional 

 cases it has been found in a clump of low bushes, or otherwise slightly 

 elevated. The eggs, which are from three to five in number, are depos- 

 ited in April or May, according to the latitude of the nesting grounds. 



The Short-eared Owl is pre-eminently a bird of the open country, in- 

 cluding the coast marshes and islands covered by bushes and high grass. 

 In the United States it is much more common in winter, receiving- 

 large reinforcements from the North. During this season of the year 

 single individuals are usually met with, or less often small colonies. 



