274 SHORT-EARED OWL. 



casions, as many as three were seen on wing, they having been put up 

 by my companions and myself, they never flew towards each other, but 

 went ofi" in different directions, as if unaware of each other's presence. 



Its predilections for the ground forms a very distinctive peculiarity 

 in the habits of this Owl, as compared with the Long- eared ; for al- 

 though it alights on bushes and trees, this seems more a matter of 

 necessity than of choice ; and in this respect it resembles the Barn 

 Owls which I found on Galveston Island. I have never observed it in 

 the act of procuring food, although it appears to see pretty well by day, 

 or at least sufficiently to enable it to discover the nature of the spot 

 toward which it removes for security. 



In America, the Short-eared Owl has been observed as far north 

 as latitude 67° by Dr Richardson, who mentions a female having been 

 killed at Fort Franklin, on the 20th of May, containing several pretty 

 large eggs, nearly ready for being laid. It is also an inhabitant of the 

 Rocky Mountains, and of the valley of the Columbia River, from which 

 it has been sent to me by Dr Townsend ; and is by no means scarce in 

 Kentucky, Louisiana, and along the coast as far as the Texas. 



Having so frequently met with many of these birds in an extent of 

 ground not exceeding half a mile, I have been disposed to think, that 

 during the migratory movements of this species, those which follow in 

 the rear of the first, are attracted by their cries, and induced to alight 

 in their vicinity ; but of this I have no positive proof, nor have I ever 

 seen them travelling from one part of the country to another. 



The only nest of this bird that I have found was placed on one of 

 the high moimtain ridges of the Great Pine Forest. It contained four 

 eggs, nearly ready to be hatched. They were of a dull bluish-white, 

 covered with excrement, of a somewhat elongated or elliptical form, 

 measuring an inch and a half in length, and an inch and an eighth in 

 breadth. The nest, which I met with on the 17th of June, was placed 

 under a low bush, and covered over by tall grass, through which a path 

 had been made by the bird. It was formed of dry grass, raked together 

 in a slovenly manner, and quite flat, but covering a large space, on one 

 side of which were found many pellets, and two field-mice, which 

 must have been brought there in the course of the preceding night, as 

 they were quite fresh. I should never have discovered their nest had 

 not the sitting bird made a noise by clicking its bill as I was passing 

 close by. The poor thing was so intent on her task that I almost put 



