i8o THE BIRDS ABOUT Us. 



The Short-eared Owl is a bird of very different 

 habits, but equally harmless and beneficial. It is 

 largely migratory and to a limited extent resident. 

 Its common name of Marsh-owl is an appropriate 

 one, for these birds appear annually in considerable 

 numbers in the reedy flats and low meadows, and 

 have learned to vary their ordinary diet with a 

 wounded reed-bird now and then. I have often been 

 startled by having one of these birds get up directly 

 in front of me with a broad spread of wing and a 

 grunt that made me for the instant uncertain whether 

 the bird was an owl or a bittern. In the lower or 

 tide-water meadows of the Delaware River this owl 

 occasionally remains throughout the year and nests 

 here. Their nests, under ordinary circumstances, are 

 placed upon the ground, but in one instance, in a 

 huge hollow of an old maple, I found the nest on 

 the bottom of this natural excavation. The opening 

 leading to it was very large, and the whole surround- 

 ings in nowise suggested the dark hole that would 

 be chosen by a screech-owl or a sparrow-hawk. 



The Barred Owl is not common in all localities, 

 and if there is not considerable uncleared land in 

 which to harbor, is only a casual visitor; but the 

 huge fellow with his pale face and black eyes is not 

 forgotten when we have once seen him. As might 

 be inferred from the size of this owl, it is not averse 

 to a pullet for a meal, and so has brought down upon 

 its head the condemnation of the poultry-keeper; 

 but the damage done in this way is unquestionably 

 greatly exaggerated, and, of course, the good done 

 in destroying mice is held of little or no importance. 



