THE SHORT-EARED OWL. 21 



cartridges, we walked quietly on, when suddenly 

 the dog stood, and before we could reach him, a 

 brown, long-winged bird rose out of the heather 

 and was sailing away. " It's one of these ere owls," 

 exclaimed the keeper, with his usual disregard for 

 species, and immediately brought it down. What 

 a pity ! It was a Short-eared Owl, sure enough, and 

 as we stretched out its beautiful barred wings, 

 smoothed its soft plumage, and gazed into its large 

 golden eyes, we felt pained to think that in another 

 moment its life would be gone. The keeper said 

 it was a destructive bird, but he was not prepared 

 with any evidence to support his statement. To 

 judge from the habits of other owls with which we 

 are better acquainted, we should say that small 

 birds, field mice, and beetles constitute its principal 

 food. 



In the South of England, and in Ireland, the 

 Short-eared Owl is known only as a winter visitant, 

 and from usually arriving about the same time as 

 the Woodcock, is often spoken of as the Wood- 

 cock Owl. In the North of England and in Scot- 

 land this bird frequently remains throughout 

 the year, and makes its nest upon the ground 



