BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 181 



head, neck, back, and scapulars dusky, the feathers 

 heing bordered with light rusty brown. Wing- 

 coverts dusky, marked with a number of yellowish- 

 white spots ; primaries light rusty brown, barred 

 with blackish-brown. Tail-quills pale rufous, barred 

 with dark brown. Under -parts buffish- white, 

 streaked on the breast and belly with blackish- 

 brown. Legs and toes feathered and pale huffish- 

 white in colour ; claws blackish. 



The female is rather larger than the male, 

 and is said by some to be somewhat duller in color- 

 ation; however, individuals vary in this respect. 

 The bird is readily distinguished from all the 

 other members of the Owl family by the smallness 

 of its head. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground, amongst 

 heather, long grass, rushes, sedge, and gorse ; on 

 large moors, upland heaths, fens, and marshes in 

 Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and in the northern 

 counties of England and Scotland. It is said 

 to be only a winter visitor to Ireland. 



Materials. Dry grass, moss, and other bits of 

 dead vegetation, used sparingly to line the hollow 

 made or selected; sometimes none whatever. 



Eggs. Three to five, generally ; some authorities 

 give the numbers as occasionally as many as seven 

 or eight. White, and oval in form. Size about 1-6 

 by 1*28 in. Easily distinguished by nesting site. 



Time. April and May. 



Remarks. Eesident and migratory, its numbers 

 being swollen in winter by the arrival of more 

 northern breeders. Notes, a shrill cry and snapping 

 of the beak when the nest or young are in danger. 

 Local and other names : Woodcock Owl, Hawk 

 Owl, Mousehawk, Short-horned Howlet, Horned 

 Oolert. A close sitter. 



