12* OWL. 



clear to me, as, on examination of the two firft, they do not bear 

 refemblance ; as to the laft-mentioned, I never faw it, mud 

 therefore be filent on that head. 



SHORT Short-eared Owl, Br. Zool, N" 66. t. 31. 



EARED Strix brachyotos, Phil. Tranf. vol. lxii. p. 384. N" 2. 



O. Short-eared Owl, Amer. Zool. N° 



Br. Muf. Lev. Muf. 



Description. ^T^HE length of this bird is fourteen inches : breadth three feet: 

 weight fourteen ounces. The bill is dufky : irides yellow : 

 the circle of feathers which furrounds the eyes is white ; clofe to 

 the eyes black ; the outer edge black and tawny mixed : it has 

 one feather longer than the reft on the head, which it can erect 

 at will. The feathers on the upper part of the body are brown, 

 with pale dull yellow edges; thofe beneath of a pale yellow, 

 longitudinally ftreaked with brown : the thighs to the toes are 

 feathered, and of a yellowifh colour: the tail is brown j the 

 four middle feathers have a brown fpot, encircled with yellow, 

 oneach fide the fh aft : the tip is white. 



Mr. Pennant fays further, that it is a bird of paflage, vifiting 

 us in Ottoher, and retiring in Spring; and adds, that it's probable 

 fummer retreat is Norway. 



Dr. Forfter, in the Phil. Tranf. above quoted, fays it is called 

 Moufe Hawk in Hudfon's Bay, where it is found, as well as in 

 Europe. This name may well arife from two circumftances ; the 

 firft, frona the head being fmaller than in moft Owls ; fecondly, 

 that the ears do not appear, nay, are often difficult to find, in 

 the dead bird ; for which reafons it may well be miftaken for a 

 9 Haivk. 



