540 THE BIRDS OF MANITOBA THOMPSON. 



" collected." It proved a Long-eared Owl. The long note that I heard 

 froD] this owl is decidedly musical, but the cries heard at this time 

 may be best described as unpleasant shrieks. 



Amisk-oho or Long-eared Owl of Peunant. This species is found, though not fre- 

 quently, at Severn Settlement. * » » They inhabit the woods at all seasons, a 

 considerable distance from the sea; seldom to be found within the day, but in the 

 night approach, when a clamorous noise proceeds from tents. They breed in trees, 

 lay four white eggs of an elliptical form in April, and their young fly in the latter 

 end of May. N. B. — This bird is local. (Hutchins MSS., Observations on Hudson 

 Bay, 1782.) 



Have never seen them in the winter. They always disappeared at about the time 

 the first snow fell, with the short-eared species. Their flight when hunting during 

 the day always reminded me of the harrier, which it closely resembles. (Nash, in 

 MSS.)' 



12^ Asio accipitiinus. Short-eared Owl. Marsh Owl. 



Tolerably common, chiefly in early autumn ; probably breeding. 

 Winnipeg: Summer resident; tolerably common ; arrives April 1, de- 

 parts November 1 (Hine). Portage la Prairie: Abundant summer 

 resident ; most often seen in the fall, especially about the marshes in 

 August and September; never seen in winter; arrives early in April, 

 departs late in October (Nash). Carberry : Not uncommon in August 

 and September (Thompson). Brandon : April 18, 1882 (Wood). 

 Abundant on Western Plain, 1880; two specimens procured on Assini- 

 boine Kiver below Shell River, September 24, 1881 (Macoun). Trout 

 Lake Station (Murray). 



August 18, 1883. During the month we have often seen owls that 

 appear just about dusk and winnow over the prairie to the west of the 

 house; now high and sharp against the last bright streak of day; now 

 down, to remain lost against the dark earth ; and if again rising after 

 some time from that same place, we know that pounce brought death 

 and burial to some foraging field-mouse or dissipated small songster. 

 I suspect that this species is either the Long-eared or Short eared Owl. 

 This evening one of these mouse-hunters came careering about the 

 barns with evident intent to dabble his very soul in arvicoline gore. 

 Mr. Christy's gun was ready and he had one snap shot, but the owl 

 flew off to the northwest over the grain field, but lower we thought as 

 he disappeared. Night and a rainstorm came together and prevented 

 our following. 



August 19. A heavy rainstorm all day. 



August 20. This morning the rain ceased. About 10 o'clock we went 

 out in the direction of the owl's course. We had almost persuaded our- 

 selves that we saw the bird go down by an old strawstack far out in 

 the field; so on the mere chance we went to this place, and almost im- 

 mediately up sprang the owl, but at once he was "collected" by the 

 aid of the ready double barreled, and there he lay on the grass, a beau- 

 tiful specimen of the Short-eared Owl. His plumage was in perfect 

 order and his horns were remarkably prominent; this, however, was lost 



