SHORT-EARED OWL. 167 



greater extent of land cultivated of late years, and the con- 

 sequent increase of mice, it has become more abundant 

 than formerly. Mr. Darwin met with it in the Falklands 

 where Captain Abbott was informed that it bred, and 

 Prof. Cunningham obtained it in Tierra del Fuego. It 

 is right, however, to remark that the Short-eared Owl of 

 America has been by some ornithologists regarded as distinct 

 from that of the Old World; but in the opinion of those 

 who have had the greatest experience no constant difference 

 can be maintained. In like manner the Short-eared Owl of 

 the Galapagos has also been described as distinct, but there 

 cannot be much doubt of its specific identity with the subject 

 of this article, of which Mr. Gurney has seen typical examples 

 from the Sandwich Islands, while D'Orbigny states that it 

 occurs in the Ladrones. 



The head of this species is small compared with that of 

 Owls generally ; the tufts about three-quarters of an inch 

 long, formed of three or four feathers, which can be elevated 

 or depressed at pleasure ; the beak is dark horn-colour ; the 

 irides golden-yellow; the feathers forming the facial disk, 

 almost black at the base, but lighter and mixed with brown 

 towards the end, those pointing in the direction of the beak 

 hiding the cere ; the disk surrounded by a whitish border ; 

 top of the head, neck, back and wings, patched with very 

 dark brown : the feathers edged with fawn-colour ; wing- 

 coverts with a few roundish spots of yellowish- white ; pri- 

 maries pale reddish-brown, barred with dark brown, and 

 ending with speckled ash-grey; tail-feathers buff, with five 

 transverse bars of very dark brown ; chin white ; all the 

 under surface pale buff, with longitudinal patches of blackish- 

 brown on the neck and breast, and streaks of the same on 

 the belly and flanks ; legs, and toes above covered with short, 

 uniform, hair-like, pale buff feathers ; toes naked beneath ; 

 claws almost black. 



The whole length from fourteen to fifteen inches. Wings, 

 when closed, reaching beyond the end of the tail. The 

 females are largest ; but the difference in the plumage of 

 the sexes is not very obvious. Pale varieties are not rare. 



