282 LONG-EARED OWL. 



we have not yet, however, ascertained its range 

 northward. In Ireland, Mr Thompson remarks, 

 it is resident; and where a sufficient extent of 

 wood exists, as in Down and Antrim, it is a 

 common species. According to this gentleman's 

 observations, it also strays considerably from its 

 cover, being known to be shot, -in the dusk of the 

 evening, a mile from high water mark, in Belfast 

 Bay, by a person waiting in a barrel (sunk in the 

 ooze) for the flying of widgeon.* In other parts 

 of the world, the distribution is extensive. 



The colouring and distribution of the markings, 

 in this species, is more akin to what we saw pre- 

 vailed in the Tawny Owl ; a chaste blending of 

 ochraceous, white, and gray, reminding one of the 

 shades which prevail among the CaprisnulgidcB. 

 The long egrets and brilliant eyes give to it also 

 u peculiar aspect, and altogether it is the most 

 striking among our native species. The ruff is 

 complete; the tips of the feathers being black, 

 shew almost a circle of that colour around to 

 the inner angle of the eyes, and folding over 

 the bill; the feathers are white, bordered with 

 black, immediately next the eye ; the outer part 

 of the disk is yellowish brown The forehead, 

 and the part immediately behind the conchal 

 opening, is finely marked with delicate undulations 

 of gray, white, and ochraceous ; the egrets are 



* Mag. of Zool. and Bot. ii. p. 177. - 



