SHORT-EARED OWL. 131 
of this Owl. In the stomach of one, Colonel Montagu 
found the remains of a Skylark and a Yellowhammer. 
Mr. Thompson of Belfast found the legs of a Purre, Tringa 
variabilis of Meyer and Temminck ; and in the stomach 
of one examined by myself, were a half-grown rat, and por- 
tions of a bat; but this is the only bird in the stomach of 
which I ever found the remains of a bat. Wilson, however, 
in his account of the White, or Barn Owl, says that bats 
are the favourite food of most of the American Owls. 
The Short-eared Owl is well known in most of, if not 
all, the southern and western counties of England, and 
according to Mr. Thompson, is one of the regular winter 
visitors to the northern counties of Ireland, preferring wet 
and boggy places, where Snipes might be expected. Loca- 
lities in the north of England, in Scotland, and the Ork- 
neys, have been already named. It inhabits the whole 
of the continent of Europe, and is found also in India and 
im China. It is found also on many of the islands of the 
Mediterranean, and on the African continent. Dr. Rich- 
ardson says, ‘‘it is a summer visitor to the fur-countries of 
North America, arriving as soon as the snow disappears, 
and departing again in September. It was observed as 
far north as latitude 67°; and a female, killed at Fort 
Franklin on the 20th of May, contained several pretty 
large eggs nearly ready for exclusion. In summer it is 
by no means rare in the fur-countries: and, as it hunts 
frequently for its prey in the day time, is often seen. 
When disturbed, it flies low for a short distance, and then 
hides itself in the heart of a bush, from whence it is not 
easily driven. Its nest, formed of withered grass and 
moss, is placed on a dry spot of ground.” This species 
frequents Hudsons’s Bay, Labrador, and Newfoundland, 
in summer, and is found on the American continent in 
K 2 
