.SHOUT-EARED OWL. 131 



sometimes be seen hawking over turnip fields, as well as in 

 more wild districts, which they naturally prefer. When dis- 

 turbed, they fly but a little way, and then alight again on 

 the ground. If captured they defend themselves with much 

 spirit, as does the Long-eared Owl, but are in some degree 

 tameable; so much so as to take food from the hand. One 

 kept by Montagu never drank during six months. They have 

 been observed to retreat into rabbit-holes, at the entrance of 

 which they had been stationed, after the manner of the 

 Burrowing Owl of America. 



On occasion, this species exhibits considerable powers of 

 flight, and if teased by the pursuit of a Rook or other bird, 

 easily surmounts it, and sometimes ascends to a great height, 

 where it wheels about in circles. It flies much after the 

 manner of a Sea-gull, and seems but very seldom to perch 

 on trees. 



Grouse, pigeons, plovers, larks, yellow-hammers, and other 

 small birds, chickens, which it sometimes snaps up even in 

 the day-time from the barn door, rats, mice, reptiles, beetles 

 and other insects, compose the prey of the Short-eared Owl. 

 The legs of a purre were found in the stomach of one, and 

 in another the remains of a bat. 'Generally speaking,' says 

 Bishop Stanley, 'a more useful race of birds does not exist; 

 since, with the exception of one or two of the larger and 

 rarer species, their food consists entirely of vermin and 

 insects, very prejudicial to our crops; and which, but for 

 these nocturnal hunters, might do serious mischief. A 

 striking instance of their utility occurred some years ago in 

 the neighbourhood of Bridgewater, in Somersetshire, where 

 during the summer such incredible numbers of mice overran 

 the country as to destroy a large portion of vegetation; and 

 their ravages might have extended to an alarming degree, 

 had it not been for a sudden assemblage of Owls, which 

 resorted from all parts to prey upon them. Short-eared 

 Owls, to the number of twenty-eight, have been counted in 

 a single field, collected together, no doubt, by swarms of 

 mice which in a favourable season had been bred there.' 



The note is said, by Meyer, to be soft and pleasing, and 

 to resemble the words 'kiou, kiou.' If alarmed for their 

 young, they utter a shrill cry, and make, as also at other 

 times, a snapping noise with their bills. The motion is so 

 quick in doing this, that it is with difficulty the opening 

 and shutting of the bill can be observed. 



