148 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



Asio accipitrinus (PALL.). 



Short-eared Owl ; Marsh Owl ; Swamp Owl. 



DESCRIPTION tPlate 86). 



" Ear-tufts very short ; entire plumage buff or pale-fulvous ; every feather on the 

 upper parts with a wide longitudinal stripe of dark-brown, which color predomi- 

 nates on the back ; under parts paler, frequently nearly white on the abdomen, with 

 longitudinal stripes of brownish-black, most numerous on the breast, very narrow 

 and less numerous on the abdomen and flanks ; legs and toes usually of a deeper 

 shade of the same color as the abdomen ; quills pale reddish-fulvous at their bases, 

 brown at their ends, with wide irregular bands and large spots of reddish-fulvous ; 

 tail pale reddish-fulvous, with about five irregular transverse bands of dark-brown 

 which color predominates on the two central feathers ; under tail-coverts usually 

 nearly white ; throat white ; eyes enclosed by large spots of brownish-black ; ear- 

 tufts brown, edged with fulvous ; bill and claws dark ; irides yellow. 



Total length : Female, about 15 inches ; wing 12 ; tail 6 inches. Male, rather 

 smaller." B. B. N. A. / 



Habitat. Throughout North America ; nearly cosmopolitan. 



The vulgar name of Marsh Owl is quite appropriate, as this species 

 frequents mostly during- its sojourn in this region marshy districts and 

 grass fields. Sometimes small parties of five, eight or even ten indi- 

 viduals, will be found in favorite grassy retreats. 



According to my observation the Short-eared Owl occurs in Pennsyl- 

 vania as a tolerably common winter resident, arriving from more north- 

 ern latitudes, early in November and departing early in April. Turn- 

 bull, in his " Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania" records it as a winter resi- 

 dent, " not uncommon." The Messrs. Baird speak of it as " abundant ; 

 not seen in summer," and Dr. Michener says : " Resident, frequent in 

 winter; rare in summer." Audubon found a nest of this owl in Penn- 

 sylvania on one of the high mountain ridges of the Great Pine Forest, 

 on June 17. In reference to this " find " he writes : " It contained four 

 eggs, nearly ready to be hatched. They were of a dull bluish-white, of 

 a somewhat elongated or elliptical form, measuring an inch and a half 

 in length, and an inch and an eighth in breadth. The nest was placed 

 under a low bush, and covered over by tall grass, through which a path 

 had been made by the bird. It was formed of dry grass, raked together 

 in a slovenly manner and quite flat, but covering a large space, on one 

 side of which were found many pellets and two field mice. I should 

 never have discovered their nest had not the sitting bird made a noise 

 by clicking its bill as I was passing close by. The poor thing was so 

 intent on her task that I almost put my hand on her before she moved ; 

 and then, instead of flying off, she hopped with great leaps until about 

 ten yards from me, keeping up a constant clicking of her mandibles. 

 Having satisfied myself as to the species, made an outline of two of the 

 eggs and measuring them, I proceeded slowly to a short distance and 

 watched her movements. Having remained silent and still for about ten 

 minutes, I saw her hop toward the nest, and soon felt assured she had 

 resumed her task." 



L. M. Turner, the Arctic explorer, in his " Contributions to the Natu- 



