OWLS AND OWL-LIKE BIRDS. 173 



form suffice to distinguish it from other common tree- 

 li.mnting Owls. Aa evening cornea on Long-Eared 

 Owls begin to snap their bills audibly and to utter a 

 mewing cry, after which they sally forth to beat over 

 tin- ground in plain, noiseless flight, searching for 

 small birds, and for rats, mice, and similar ground- life. 



TA\VN V OWL 15 inches ; light bill ; dark eyes ; no haul. 



tufts; under parts with heavy dark streak* Notes, 



Too-whit I ' and ' Too-hoo-oo !' 

 BARN OWL 14 inch**. The white Owl haunting barns and 



church towers. Cries, a rasping screech and a breathing 



snore. 

 8HORT-E AltED OWL-15 inches. Small-headed Owl nest 



ing on fen and moorland, of a bufluh colour, densely 



streaked above and below, and with inconspicuous head- 



tuft*. Hunts low over open ground by day or night. 



Cries, a laugh-like yell and a baying hoot. 



SHORT-EARED OWL. Form, resembling that of 

 Long- Eared Owl (plate 79). 15 inches. Head smaller 

 than usual with Owls ; face gray, with two inconspicu- 

 ous tufts of erectile plumes above like ears ; bill black ; 

 eyes yellow, each encircled with black feathers ; upper 

 parts, neck, and upper breast buff or tawny, heavily 

 streaked with dark brown ; lower breast lighter and 

 finely streaked ; belly and feathered legs and toes 

 lighter still, unstreaked ; larger wing-feathers and 

 tail cross-barred alternately with huffish and dark 

 brown. Resident and winter migrant 



Eggs. 6, or more, rounded, white ; 1 '6 

 inch. 



Nest Only a depression among heather on the 

 moors or among sedges or reeds in the fe 



