SHOUT-EARED OWL. 263 



Cii.oR. Adult. Ahove, dark-brown, with tlic feather- edged, mottled, spotted, and barred with yellowi-'h-rufou". 

 Bump, wholly yellowish-rufous, bancd with ilu-ky. \Yir.gs, dark-brown, barred with yellowish-ruf.ius, which becomes 

 lighter on the inner TOba and naKri; white, li.-l >w. Tail, also dark-brown, barred with yellowish-rufous which becomes 

 lighter mi tin- outer Outliers an;i nearly whin- on thr lower side;. Beneath, including under wins; and tail coverts, tibia, 

 an 1 tarsu-, yellowish-white, streaked with dark-brown on tlie b.i.ly. There is a prominent spot of dark-brown on the un- 

 der \\ -ing c.ncrts near the outer edge. The face is white, mixed with dusky and a. ring of dark-brown entirely surrounds 

 the eye. 



Youny. Similar to the adult but show much more rufous on the upper surface while the same color predominates on 

 the lower |xirtions. 



Nettings. Are at first covered with a yellow down and, in time, gradually assume the second plumage. Iris, yellow, 

 cere, greenish, bill and claws, dark-brown, in all stages. Sexes, similar in color. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



injens of the same age and sex are usually quite uniform in color, for Owls, but some skins obtained by Mr. Win. 

 Brewster and myself, in Summer at Muskeget, a sandy inland off the South Shore of Massachusetts are so much bleached 

 a- m appear nearly white in the distance. This is, however, merely the result of exposure to the sun in an unsheltered 

 situation, where they were constantly resident. Readily known from the succeeding species by the short ear tufts and 

 light tints, and from all others by the long wings, combined with the colors as described. Distributed, as a constant resi- 

 dent, throughout the entire extent of North America, also found in the Old World. 



DIMENSIONS. 



A \eragc measurements of male specimens. Langth, 14*25; stretch, 39'50;" wing, 12*70; tail, fi*20; bill, '85; tarsus, 

 1-60. Longest specimen, 15*00; greatest extent of wing, 41*00; longest wing, 13*00; tail, H*40; bill, TOO; tarsus, ]-75. 

 Sl'orfst specimen, 14*50; smallest extent of wing, 3S*00: shortest wing, 12*30; tail, 5*90; bill, *70; tarsus, 1*50. 



.\\eraire measurements <*( female specimens. Length, 14*50; stretch, 4(1*00; wing, 13*00; tail, 6*30; bill, *90; tarsus, 

 1'80. Lmg-st -p.vimen, 15*50; greatest extent of wing, 4i*00; longest wing, 13*50; tail, 6-60; bill, 1*10; tarsus, 1*90. 

 Shortest specimen, 15*00; smallest extent of wing, 3!)'09; shortest wing, 12*50; tail, 6*00; bill, '80; tarsus, 1'70. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nesti, are often bulky structures placed either on the ground or in low bushes. They are composed of sticks, twigs, 

 gras-. etc., lined with grass and leaves. 



Eyys, four or five in number, quite elliptical in form, white in color, with the surface very smooth. Dimensions from 

 I -20x1*50 to 1*25x1*56. 



HABITS. 



As a rule, Owls prefer wooded sections or, if they do not, as is the case of the Barn 

 Owl, they will hide in holes of rocks or in deserted buildings but the species of which I am 

 now writing, has a decided predilection for the open country, usually choosing marshes or 

 barren sections near the sea shore; in fact, they are quite uncommon elsewhere and, al- 

 though I have seen scores of Short-eared Owls, I have met with only one in the interior. 

 They are fond of resorting to hill-sides, grown up to low bushes among which they hide, 

 emerging by night to feed on mice or small birds which they procure by hawking over the 

 marshes, flying at a considerable height, but when they perceive the object for which they 

 are hunting, they will suspend themselves in air for a moment, after the manner of King- 

 fishers, then will drop perpendicularly upon their victims, seldom missing their aim, after 

 which they will remain on the ground to eat them. 



I had an excellent opportunity of studying the habits of these Owls when camping, 

 in company with Mr. Brewster and another friend who has since passed away, on the is- 

 land of Muskoget during the early part of July, 1870. This little islet which is situated 

 between Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, is low, sandy and, in places, quite destitute of 

 vegetation, while a scant out-cropping of beach grass may be seen on the sides and tops of 



