THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 195 



in somewhat smaller numbers, during the early period of the spring 

 migration when the weather is still inclement. 



That this bird is a frequenter of woods is very soon noticeable 

 in the examples which are met with here, for they resort exclusively 

 to the few bushes and shrubs found in the gardens between the 

 houses. Thus, they seem to have a special preference for a strong 

 and close thorn bush in my garden, which is from fifteen to 

 eighteen feet high, and in which they sit the whole day motionless 

 in the darkest possible corner, flying off at once when disturbed 

 into the nearest thick shrub. Accordingly, it is often their fate to 

 be caught in the throstle-bush. 



The Long- eared Owl occurs as a breeding species from western 

 Europe to eastern Asia, but only isolated instances are known 

 beyond 60 N. latitude. 



33. Short-eared Owl 



STRIX BRACHYOTUS, Forster.i 



Heligolandish: \Jhl = Owl. 



Strix brachyotus. Naumann, i. 459. 



Short-eared Owl. Dresser, v. 257. 



Hibou brachyote. Temminck, Manuel, i. 99, iii. 51. 



This is by far the most numerously-represented species of all 

 the Owls occurring in Heligoland. It is a quite common daily 

 occurrence during the spring migration right into May, and is also 

 very common in autumn throughout September and October. 

 Although the bird shows no particular inclination for society, it 

 is by no means unusual to rouse, early in the morning, a company 

 of twenty or more from a field, forty by fifteen paces in extent, 

 which may happen to be lying fallow and to be covered with a 

 dense growth of wild mustard. 



Besides frequenting ploughed fields and the sand oats 2 of the 

 Dune, these Owls also show a preference for small corners or pro- 

 jections of the cliff, where, if left undisturbed, they will stay the 

 whole day. I remember, very late one beautifully calm May after- 

 noon on which I had made a good bag at the bottom of the West 

 Cliff shooting with my rifle six of these birds who were sitting out 

 of range of small shot on the face of the cliff, at a height of from 

 one hundred and sixty to one hundred and eighty feet. Count- 

 less Goatsuckers were likewise dozing on this bright warm day 

 among the stones and shingle of the foreshore on that part of the 

 island. 



Elymus arenarius. v. former note under No. 27. 2 Asio accipitrinus (Pall. ). 





