THE SHORT-EARED OWL 



75 



its favourite food is the lark. The upper parts are greyish-black, 

 the feathers having lighter margins ; the chin and throat, white ; 

 belly dull orange marked with arrow-head spots ; quills dusky black. 

 It builds in tall trees, sometimes making use of the deserted nest 

 of a crow. The eggs are four in number, of a dirty white colour 

 speckled with reddish-brown. The length of the bird is from 12 to 

 14 in. It feeds principally on small birds and large beetles, 

 and may occasionally prey on small game, being very strong-winged, 

 and was formerly a great favourite for the chase of small game when 

 falconry was in fashion. 



The SHORT-EARED OWL (Otm or Strix brachyotus), Fig. 48, belongs 

 to the family Strigidae and sub-family Otinae or Owlets, and is 

 more or less migratory in habits, though occasionally remaining in 

 this country throughout the year. It generally arrives in the British 

 Islands in autumn, and leaves this country at the beginning of spring. 



FIG. 48. THE SHORT-EARED OWL. 



The Short-eared Owl is about 14 J in. in height, the female 

 being rather larger than the male. The head, back and wings are 

 lightish-brown with darker brown patches upon them. The wing 



