THE SHORT-EARED OWL 41 



frequent glimpses of the voles within, as they flitted 

 along their galleries. When we were well into this dreary 

 place a couple of Short-eared Owls positively mobbed 

 us, and as we walked along, with our fishing-rods over 

 our shoulders they followed us till we reached a dry 

 gully, where they became even more demonstrative, 

 coming well within point of our rods. On both 

 occasions the hour was between eleven and twelve o'clock 

 and the sun was shining brilliantly." 



The Short-eared Owl is fierce and bold in defence of 

 her young. She will attack larger animals than herself. 

 In the Hawaiian Islands she has always been much 

 admired because of her fine qualities, and was indeed 

 one of the old tutelary deities of the natives. 



This Owl is from 14 to 15 inches in length. The 

 ear-feathers are short, the irides yellow, bill black, black 

 about the eyes, and the facial disk is browner than 

 in the last-named species; the plumage of the upper 

 parts is more blotched than streaked ; the ' buff tint is 

 more decided. The ear-tufts, though erectile, are short, 

 and not seen except when the bird is excited. Under- 

 parts streaked lengthwise with blackish-brown, but 

 have no transverse bars. The young are browner 

 and darker and more boldly marked, and tawny on the 

 under parts, iris paler than in the adult. 



