a3» S H O R T - E A R E D O W L. 



bro-vwi, edged witli dull yellow : breaft and belly yellowiUi white, 

 marked with a few dufky ftreaks pointing downwards : thighs, legs, 

 and toes, covered with plain yellow feathers : primaries dufky, 

 barred with red : tail of a deep brown, marked on each fide of the 

 middle feathers with a large yellow circle, with a brown Ipot in the 

 middle. In fome, the feathers are yellowifh, obliquely barred with 

 black. The horns, or ears, confift of only a fingle feather, which it 

 can raife or deprefs at pleafcr'*. The wings reach beyond the end of 

 o the tail. Length fourteen inches. Weight fourteen ounces. 



blZE. ° 



Place. Found in plenty in the woods near Chateau Bay, on the Labrador 



coaft. It is alfo an inhabitant of the Falkland IJlands -, fo probably 

 is common to North and South America. In Hud/on's Bay it is called 

 the Moufe Hawk. It never flies, like other Owls, in fearch of prey ; 

 but fits quiet on a ftump of a tree, watching, like a Cat, the appear- 

 ance of Mice. It breeds near the coaft ; makes its nefl with dry 

 grafs upon the ground 5 and migrates fouthwards in autumn. Father 

 Feuillee fpeaks of an Owl he found in Peru that has fome refemblance 

 to this, particularly in the Hawk-like fhape of the bill. He fays 

 it burrows under ground to a great depth, like a Rabbet ; for which 

 reafon he names it Ulula Cunicularia *. It is very common in the 

 northern and woody parts of Sibiria. Comes boldly to the night 

 fires, and aiTaults men, when it is often killed with fticks. 



In Europe it is found in Great Britaiity and reaches- to. the Orkney 

 ifles. Does not perch, but fits on the ground, on which it lays its 

 eggs amidft the heath. Appears and difappears in Lincolnjhire with 

 the Woodcock. Perhaps migrates to Sweden or Norway, where it is 

 , - alfo found, and even as high as Iceland f. Flies and preys by day, in 



dark and cloudy weather. Friendly to the farmer, by being an ex- 

 cellent moufer. Does not fly far; but if difturbed, foon alights, and 

 fits looking about j at which times its horns are very confpicuou's.'^ 

 This circumftance hitherto unattended to .; fo that it has been ranked 

 among the Earlefs Owls. 



*' Foy. Peru, ii. 562. 



t See Strix Fiinerea, Faun. Suec, N° 75. Fontop. Atlas Danica, tab. 25, Olaffen's 



Iceland, ii. tab. 46. 



Little 



