BIRDS OF THE STREAMS 85 



Food. Insects and their larvae. Small mollusca and 

 various seeds in winter. 



Nest. May onwards. Two or three broods. 



Site. On or close to the ground, and always near 

 water, among rushes at side of a ditch, among 

 osiers, &c. 



Materials. Dry grass, bits of aquatic plants, and moss, 

 lined with fine grass and horsehair. 



Eggs. Four to five. Brownish lavender or purplish 

 grey. 



SHORT-EARED OWL (Asio accipitrinus). 



Resident only in the northern counties, but generally 

 dispersed over the country in autumn and winter. 

 Essentially a ground Owl, inhabiting moors and marshes 

 and open country. 



Plumage. Tufts on head much shorter than in Long- 

 eared Owl. Upper parts dark buff, broadly streaked 

 and blotched with dark brown. Facial disc buff, 

 streaked with dark brown. Wings barred with brown ; 

 under parts dull yellow, streaked with dark brown. 

 Bill black. Legs covered with buff feathers. Length 

 15 in. Female, larger and darker. Young, much 

 darker above and more tawny below. Nestling covered 

 with grey down. 



Language. A variety of noises ; one like the barking 

 of a dog, another a kind of hiss, and another a sharp 

 clicking sound. 



Habits. Much resembling the other Owls, but less 

 nocturnal, frequenting more open country and living on 

 the ground. 



Food. Small mammals and birds ; also bats, fish, 

 insects, and reptiles. 



Nest. Usually in May. Sometimes later. 



Site. On the ground, under a small bush or amongst 

 growing herbage. 



