SHORT-EARED OWL. 297 



visits us in October, and retires early in the spring, like the 

 Woodcock. . . . Known by the name of Mouse Hawk and 

 Woodcock Owl." (Fox's "Synopsis," p. 54.) 

 Thomas Allis, 1844, wrote : 



Otus brachyotus. Short-eared Owl By no means uncommon in 

 the autumnal months, especially in cultivated fields ; but this species is 

 also rare in the Halifax district. A. Strickland says he has several 

 times met with this bird in considerable numbers when shooting among 

 turnips in autumn, and that a few are shot every year at that season ; 

 from being met with in autumn, it is called Woodcock Owl, under the 

 idea that it comes over with that bird, but, as they are found to breed 

 on the moors to the north, and are not observed as a winter resident, 

 he strongly suspects that the groups met with in autumn are in the 

 act of leaving us, and not arriving, as is also observed with the Ring 

 Ouzel.* 



The Short-eared Owl is an annual immigrant from the 

 north, arriving on our coast line from the first week in October 

 to the middle of November in considerably varying numbers. 

 The earliest recorded arrival was on 6th August 1892, at Spurn ; 

 at Redcar two appeared on 2ist August 1884. Occasionally 

 individuals are known to occur in December, and even in 

 January ; on the I4th of the latter month, in the year 1879, 

 one was seen on the Tees Breakwater. These immigrants 

 after a short rest proceed inland, distributing themselves 

 generally over the county, where specimens are to be observed 

 during the winter months. 



The late J. Cordeaux contributed a most interesting 

 article to the Zoologist (1877, p. 9), on the exceptionally large 

 flight which visited these shores during the autumn of 1876, 

 which, whilst giving an accurate account of the habits of this 

 species immediately after their arrival, also records some 

 valuable observations on their habits during migration, as 

 follows : 



" These birds arrived on the night of the 23rd of October, 

 at least I first found them on the morning of the 24th crouched 

 amid patches of rough sea-grass on the embankment, as well 

 as further inland on drain sides and amidst rough grass in 



* Needless to remark Strickland's surmise was not the correct one, 

 this Owl being a winter visitant. 



