64 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. [CHAP. rn. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Short-eared Owl: Habits of Long-eared Owl Tame Owl White Owl 

 Utility of Owls Mice Rats : Destructiveness of Water Rats : Food of 

 Killing Rats Ratcatchers. 



AMONGST the migratory birds that pass the winter in this coun- 

 try is the short-eared owl, Stryx brachyotus : it arrives in 

 October, sometimes in flights of some number. I have heard 

 from perfectly good authority of sixteen or seventeen of these 

 birds having been found in one turnip-field on the east coast, 

 evidently having just arrived. It is a long-winged bird, and 

 more active in its manner of flight than most of the other owls, 

 nor is it so completely nocturnal. I saw one of this kind hunt- 

 ing a rushy field and regularly beating it for prey at midday. 

 The owl was so intent on his pursuit that he flew straight in 

 my direction and nearly close to me before he observed me. 

 When he did so, he darted off with great quickness and with a 

 most hawk-like flight, but too late to escape. I killed him 

 (though it is against my usual rule to shoot at an owl) because 

 he appeared to me to be of a different species from any with 

 which I was acquainted. Before I shot him he had put up and 

 made a dash at a snipe, but did not follow up his pursuit, pro- 

 bably perceiving that it would be useless. I have very frequently 

 flushed this kind of o\vl in rushes, furze, and other low cover. 

 When put up, instead of being distressed and confused by the 

 light of the sun, he flies boldly and steadily away. Sometimes 

 I have seen one, when put up, rise high in the air and fly 

 straight away until I could no longer distinguish him. 



The owls that breed here are the long-eared owl, the tawney 

 owl, and the barn-owl : the latter, though so common in Eng- 

 land, is by far the rarest in this country. 



The long-eared owl is a fine bold bird, and his bright yellow 

 eye gives him a peculiarly handsome appearance : altogether he 

 is of a lighter make and more active than the other owls ; they 



