88 Craigmillar and its Environs. 



should he persist in his attack. Unfortunately, at that 

 moment the female was approaching from behind, 

 and as the gun was thrown quickly backwards, prior 

 to bringing it down to strike the male, it met the 

 female with such violence that it knocked her to the 

 ground. She was only stunned, however, and quickly 

 getting up, flew on to an adjoining tree. From the 

 number of feathers on the ground and adhering to 

 the muzzle of the gun, she must have been badly in- 

 jured. For two days she was not once seen, but on the 

 third day we were pleased to see her return to watch 

 over her imprisoned progeny. The male bird did 

 not actually touch our face, but being beaten off, he 

 flew up into a tree overhead, and carefully scrutinised 

 our proceedings. 



The Short-eared Owl, though rare, we have more 

 than once flushed in turnip - fields when partridge- 

 shooting. Though a few remain in this country 

 the entire year, by far the greater number are 

 migratory. 



The Long-eared Owl, though the commonest of 

 the species, is rare around Craigmillar. In the spring 



