EARED OWLS. 151 



The short-eared owl (A. accipitrinus) is a common and well- 

 Short-Eared Owls. . . . ^ 



known British species, having an almost world-wide distribution, and 



ranging from the Arctic regions to South America and Africa, although unknown 

 in Australia and Oceania. The distinctive character of the species is the shortness 

 of the ear-tufts, which are less than the length of the third toe and claw. The 

 general colour of the upper-parts is fulvous or tawny, with each feather streaked 

 with brown down the middle ; whereas in the allied Cape eared-owl {A. capensis) 

 the same surface is uniform brown. In the common species the under-parts are 

 pale buff, with streaks of blackish brown ; the wings and tail are barred with 

 brown (five stripes on the latter) ; the facial disc dusky with a whitish border ; the 

 beak horn colour ; and the iris golden-yellow. The whole length of the bird varies 

 from 14 to 15 inches, and, when closed, the wings reach beyond the end of the tail. 

 Widely distributed in Great Britain, the short -eared owl breeds but 

 sparingly, many of the specimens seen being merely winter visitants. In place of 

 frequenting woods and groves, this owl haunts open moors, fields, — either stubble, 

 grass, or turnips, — and generally nests on the ground rather than on trees or 

 bushes. Although mainly nocturnal, if flushed during the day — as not unfrequently 

 happens in partridge-shooting — it flies strongly and well ; and it is even said to 

 hunt its prey at times in cloudy weather during daylight. Its cry is said to 

 resemble the words keaw-keaw. In most parts of Europe the chief food of the 

 short-eared owl consists of voles, but in Scandinavia it preys almost exclusively 

 on lemmings. It also kills small birds and beetles. At such times as plagues of 

 the short-tailed vole have made their appearance in the British Islands it has been 

 this owl which has made its appearance in the greatest numbers to prey upon the 

 obnoxious rodents; and it also collects in similar flocks during the periodical 

 migrations of the lemming in Norway. It is a curious circumstance that although 

 the number of eggs laid by this bird is generally four, yet when food is unusually 

 abundant, as during a lemming-migration, the number in a clutch will rise to 

 seven or eight ; and during the recent vole-plague in Scotland even larger numbers 

 are recorded, reaching to as many as thirteen. The eggs are usually laid in a 

 hollow of the ground, with only a very slight nest. In India Jerdon states that 

 this owl " is almost exclusively found in long grass, and in beating for florikan 

 many are always flushed ; one now and then paying the penalty of keeping com- 

 pany with such a game-bird by falling to the gun of some tyro. It is migratory 

 in India, coming in at the beginning of the cold weather, and leaving about March." 

 In North America the breeding-range of this owl extends from the middle of the 

 United States to the Arctic regions. "Its home," writes Captain Bendire, "is 

 amidst the rank grasses or weeds usually found along the borders of lakes and 

 sloughs in the open prairie country, where it hides during bright sunshiny days. 

 If the sky is clouded, this owl may be frequently seen hunting in the early morn- 

 ing or evening, and sometimes in the middle of the day, and at such times it flies 

 very low, not more than a few feet from the ground, which it carefully scans for 

 its humble prey. Its flight is remarkably easy, graceful, and perfectly noiseless. 

 From the fact that these owls are generally seen in pairs at all seasons of the year, 

 it is very probable that they remain mated through life." While in the Arctic 

 regions the nesting of this owl is often deferred till June, in the more southern 



