BIRDS OF NEW YORK 113 



and Branchport to April 19 and May u when its nest was found with eggs 

 at Holland Patent. 



The Long-eared owl ranks close to the Barn owl and the Sawwhet 

 owl in its services to agriculture. From an examination of 129 stomach 

 pellets cast by this species, the author found its food to consist of mice (187) 

 and sparrows (5) which agrees very nearly with Doctor Fisher's report 

 from the examination of stomachs sent to the Department of Agriculture. 



Asio flammeus (Pontoppidan) 

 Short-eared Owl 



Plate 56 



Strix flammea Pontoppidan. Danske Atlas. 1763. 1:617. pi. xxv, figure 

 Otus palustris DoKay. Zool. N. Y. 1844. pt 2, p. 28, fig. 27 

 Asio flammeus. A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 3. 1910. p. 169. No. 367 

 flammeus, Lat., flaming, referring to the general yellowish brown coloration 



Description. Ear tufts rudimentary. General ground color ocherous 

 to buffy white, streaked with dark brown; wing and tail feathers barred 

 with the same; region of the eyes blackish, the eyelids whitish; iris bright 

 yellow; bill bluish black. 



Length 13.7-16.5 inches; extent 40-44; wing 11.7-13; tail 5.7-6.2; 

 tarsus 1.75. 



This is the " yellowish brown owl " or " Marsh owl " so often seen 

 flying over the marshes early in the evening or on dark days. 



Distribution. This is one of our commonest owls, at least in the low- 

 lands and marshy districts far outnumbering all other species, and in the 

 more cultivated portions of the State is more frequently observed than 

 any other owl except the Screech owl. Unfortunately a large percentage 

 is killed early in the winter each year by gunners and thoughtless sports- 

 men, but where left undisturbed, it must be regarded a common winter 

 visitant on all our extensive marshes and waste fields. During October 

 and November, and again in March and April its numbers are noticeably 

 increased, when the birds from the far north are sojourning with us on 

 their semiannual migrations. As a resident species this owl is quite widely 

 distributed in New York, its presence during the breeding season depending 



