50 BUBONID.E. 



measure to a greater adaptability than is possessed by most species ; also 

 to its better sight in the daytime, and to its wandering disposition, 

 which enables it to escape a threatened famine, and to seize on unoccu- 

 pied or favourable ground. 



The bird loves an open country, and sits by day on the ground con- 

 cealed amongst the herbage or tall grass. An hour before sunset it 

 quite its hiding-place, and is seen perched on a bush or tall stalk, or 

 sailing about a few feet above the ground with a singularly slow, heron- 

 like flight ; and at intervals while flying it smites its wings together 

 under its breast in a quick sudden manner. It is not at all shy, the 

 intrusion of a man or dog in the field it frequents only having the effect 

 of exciting its indignation. An imitation of its cry will attract all the 

 individuals within hearing about a person, and any loud unusual sound, 

 like the report of a gun, produces the same effect. When alarmed or 

 angry it utters a loud hiss, and at times a shrill laugh-like cry. It 

 also has a dismal scream, not often heard ; and at twilight hoots, this 

 part of its vocal performance sounding not unlike the distant baying of 

 a mastiff or a bloodhound. It breeds on the ground, clearing a circular 

 spot, and sometimes, but not often, lining it with a scanty bed of dry 

 grass. The eggs are three or four, white, and nearly spherical. 



The Short-eared Owl was formerly common everywhere on the pam- 

 pas, where the coarse indigenous grasses afforded the shelter and con- 

 ditions best suited to it. When in time this old rough vegetation gave 

 place to the soft perishable grasses and clovers, accidentally introduced 

 by European settlers, the Owl disappeared from the country, like the 

 large Tinamou (Rhynchotis rufescens), the Red-bellied Finch (Ember- 

 nagra platensis], and various other species ; for the smooth level plains 

 afforded it no shelter. Now, however, with the spread of cultivation, it 

 has reappeared, and is once more becoming a common bird in the more 

 thicklv-settled districts. 



288. BUBO VIRGINIANUS (Om.). 

 (VIRGINIAN OWL.) 



Bubo virginianus, Scl et Salv. Nomencl. p. 116 ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1872, p. 549 

 (Rio Negro) ; White, P. Z. 8. 1883, p. 433 (Cordova) ; Barrows, Auk, 1884, 

 p. 29 (Gualeguaychu). Bubo crassirostris, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. 

 p. 430 (Mendoza). Bubo magellanicus, d'Orb. Voy. Ois. p. 137 ; Salv. Ibis, 

 1880, p. 361 (Salta); Shurpe, Cat. B. ii. p. 29. 



Description. Above dull tawny buff, more or less densely mottled with 

 blackish brown ; ear-tufts long, blackish, mixed with tawny buff; wings tawny 



