130 THE BIRDS OF DEVOX. 



and another ^lay 31 st, 1S77 (B., MS. Xotcs ; and J. G., Zool. 1S77, p. 283). 

 Mr. Eoughton Kvngdon informed us that he found a nest with eggs on. 

 Haklon, May 13th, 1«63. 



Twenty occurred near Kingshridge in December 1879. They were 

 mostly from the neiglibonrhood of Halwell "Woods, near the Estuary 

 (R. P. N., MS, Xotcs). This species was extremely numerous in other 

 pai'ts of England about that time. In January 1880 seven or eiglit were 

 seen flying oiit of a plantation near Kingsbrirlge (E. A. S. E., MS. Xotes). 



At Plymouth many occurred in December 1873; in October and 

 December 187() ; from September to December 1879 ; and in January and 

 Xovember 1881 ; but this Owl is not usually numerous there (J. G., Zool. 

 1874, p. 3910; 1877, pp. 44, 47; 1879, p. 43; 1880, p. 47; 1881, 

 p. 107 ; 1882, p. 05). One was shot on Derriford Estate, Egg Buckland, 

 Eebruary 1st, 1 SGI (T. K. A. B.). It is scarce near Exeter, but specimens 

 Avcre shot in that neighbourhood Xovember 1868, December 1870, October 

 1873, and Xovember 1879. At Torquay it is a rare visitor. A pair 

 were obtained there December 17th, 1^73 (A. von H., Zool. 1874, p. 3907). 



It is not mentioned in the lists of birds of Lundy Island. 



This pretty species of Owl is such a rechise, hiding itself in thick fir- 

 plantatioDS, where it chooses its roost on some branch close to the bole of 

 the tree, and its plumage corresponds so closely in its tints with those of 

 the bark, that it may be easily overlooked, and may be more numerous in 

 a district than it is supposed to be. It is also strictly nocturnal, coming 

 abroad only at dusk to feed on mice and small finches. We have seen 

 the young perched side by side upon a branch, and so inconspicuous were 

 they that they might easily have escaped notice. Only once were we 

 fortunate enough to detect a Long-eared Owl's nest in Xorth Devon, and 

 this was close to our house. A keeper at Heanton, near Barnstaple, 

 observing one of these Owls on a bank fired at it, and found on going 

 forward that he had killed five ; the 0\\ls must have been squatting 

 very close together. "VYe have two of the five in our collection. Xot 

 many specimens of the Long-eared Owl are brought to the Barnstaple 

 bird-stuff'er. and we do not think it is at all a numerous species in the 

 northern division of the county. It is chiefly a winter visitor to the 

 South-western Counties, but is stated to be a resident in Dorset, Somerset, 

 and Cornwall. This makes it all the more strange that it is not a 

 resident in Devonshire. 



Short-eared Ov/l. Jsio Irachyotus (Forster). 



[Woodcock-Owl.] 



A winter visitor of frequent occurrence and sometimes numerous. It 

 is met with every autumn and winter in the south of the county, some- 

 times arriving as early as Sei)tember (11. P. X., MS. Xotes). It was 

 abundant throughout Devonshire in 1875, 1876, and 1878. It has been 

 occasionally obtained in spring. One was shot on Exmoor, March 13th, 

 1829 (E, il., Trans. Plym. Inst. 1S30, p. 298). One occurred in May 



