94 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



The short-eared owl (Otus brachyotos) occurs 

 on our open heaths about the latter end of Octo- 

 ber, and its appearance here, as elsewhere, is 

 generally hailed as the harbinger of the first flight 

 of woodcocks ; but although I have frequently met 

 with it in such situations, and occasionally in tur- 

 nip and stubble fields, I believe it to be much less 

 generally distributed here than on the eastern 

 coast of England. It is an autumnal visitor from 

 the north, appears to be less incommoded by day- 

 light than any of its congeners, and flies, even 

 during sunshine, with a degree of boldness and 

 decision which alone would serve to distinguish it 

 from the others. Its prey appears to be similar to 

 that of the kestrel. The stomachs of three which 

 I examined contained the remains of field mice, 

 young rats, and the elytra of different species of 

 beetles. 



The eggs and nest of this bird have been found 

 in Norfolk, but I believe that it has never been 

 known to breed in this county. 



Of the occurrence of that rare visitor, the Scops- 

 eared owl (Scops Aldrovandi), I can record only 

 one instance in Sussex. It was shot some years 

 ago at Shillinglee, the seat of the Earl of Winter- 

 ton, and was subsequently in the possession of a 

 member of the family. 



The white or barn owl (Strix Jlammea], pre- 



