the trunk of the tree will, as a rule, dislodge the sitting bird. The only way 

 is to climb to all likely-looking nests a rather fatiguing process in a large 

 wood, the bird often sitting quietly until the climber is actually at the nest, 

 when she will fly silently away. The nest chosen may be at any height from 

 the ground, but a fairly thick part of the tree is generally preferred. Some- 

 times an old Squirrel's nest is utilised, the top being usually torn off and 

 the nest somewhat flattened before the eggs are deposited. 



I came across a nest of this species in Tweedsmuir during the vole 

 plague of 1892, when Owls, more especially the Short-eared, were abundant 

 in the neighbourhood of these small pests. It was placed in a larch fir about 

 forty feet from the ground, in a small patch of trees on the hillside. An old 

 Pigeon's nest had been utilised, sticks had been added to it chiefly small 

 larch twigs and a lining of sheep's wool, a huge straggling mass of which 

 hung down from one side of the nest, and waved to and fro in the wind, 

 making it very conspicuous. Both birds were at the nest, the one sitting on 

 the eggs, and the other perched on the edge of it against the trunk of the tree. 

 I regretted exceedingly that I had no camera with me, as such chances are 

 rare, and I sat in the next tree within twelve feet of them for some time, 

 and they never stirred. The nest contained a half-fledged bird, two tiny 

 nestlings, and two eggs, both addled. I came across five or six Long- 

 eared Owls' nests about this time (March 2Oth) in the same neighbourhood, 

 but, with the exception of this one, all were in deserted Hooded Crows' 

 nests. During the above-mentioned vole plague in Tweedsmuir, it was no 

 uncommon thing to see the Owls abroad in the day-time after the young were 

 hatched, flying silently over the hillside, and pouncing down on their prey. 

 The Short-eared Owl was by far the commoner species, but I observed several 

 Long-eared Owls among them. 



The eggs of the Long-eared Owl are from four to six in number, as a 

 rule, though as many as seven are sometimes found. They are rather more 

 oval in shape than those of the Tawny Owl, and much smaller ; they are, 

 however, almost indistinguishable from those of the Short-eared Owl. They 

 are pure white in colour and somewhat glossy, and vary in length from 1-75 to 

 i -5 inches, and in breadth from 1-3 to 1-25 inches. 



The young birds, which are at first covered with a whitish down, remain 

 some time in the nest, and when they can fly they sit among the branches 

 of the neighbouring trees, where they are fed by their parents until well on 

 in the summer. In the evenings they may be heard calling incessantly, 

 making a noise rather like the mewing of a cat. 



22 



