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with during the winter. Professor von Nordmann speaks of it as being common during winter 

 in Southern Russia ; and Dr. Eadde, who says that he never observed it in the Crimea, adds that 

 on several occasions he noticed it in Bessarabia. It is found in Asia Minor and also in Palestine, 

 where, however, it is not common. According to Von Heuglin it appears as a winter visitant, 

 either singly or in large companies, in North-east Africa, and ranges southwards into Abyssinia. 

 On the 19th February, 1862, he met with flocks of the Short-eared Owl near Lake Tana; and he 

 observed it in the Bajuda desert, and the dry valleys between Assouan and Berenice. Vierthaler 

 found it on the Blue Nile in November 1850 ; and Hartmann says that it ranges to Upper 

 Sennaar. Captain Shelley mentions that in Egypt he has shot it as late as the end of March. It 

 is also met with in North-west Africa during winter, and is said to be generally distributed in 

 Algeria. Favier says that it is found in Tangier in small flights on open and wet ground ; and he 

 adds that it breeds there and interbreeds with the Cape-Owl ; but this statement cannot, in my 

 opinion, be credited. It appears to have occurred as far south in Africa as Natal, whence a 

 living specimen has been sent to the Zoological Society of London. 



In Asia it is found as far east as Japan. Menetries records it as common in the Caucasus ; 

 and Major St. John met with it in considerable numbers near Bushire in March 1867. It is 

 common in India during the winter, arriving, Dr. Jerdon says, at the beginning of the cold 

 weather, and leaving about March; but Mr. Hume says that it does not extend to Ceylon. 

 Dr. Severtzoff records it as occurring in Turkestan on passage ; and it appears to be met with 

 throughout Siberia. Von Middendorff found it breeding on the Boganida, and remarks that 

 some examples are much paler and whiter than European specimens. Von Schrenck had one 

 specimen from near Nertschinsk, obtained by Mr. Maack ; and Dr. Radde says that it is common 

 in South-eastern Siberia, where it breeds. He adds that fresh eggs were found in the elevated 

 steppes of Dauria on the 20th April, and also on the 25th May. Pere David speaks of it as 

 being rare in Mongolia ; and Mr. Swinhoe states that it has been met with in China, as far south 

 as Canton. It is not uncommon in Assam and British Burmah ; and Mr. Gurney has received it 

 from Singapore. 



On the American continent the present species is also very widely distributed, being met 

 with as far south as the lower part of South America ; and it is also found on the Atlantic 

 islands, Dr. Gundlach speaking of it as being an occasional visitant to Cuba. In Arctic North 

 America it appears to be common during the summer season. Richardson observed it as far 

 north as the 67th parallel in the fur-countries, where it arrives as soon as the snow disappears, 

 and leaves again in September. Captain Blakiston met with it on the coast of Hudson's Bay ; 

 and though stated to be somewhat rare in Nova Scotia, it is not uncommon in New Brunswick, 

 where, I was assured when there, it breeds ; and Mr. Elliott Cabot found a nest on the island of 

 Grand Menan, in the Bay of Fundy. It is generally distributed in the Eastern States, is said to 

 breed in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; and Dr. E. Coues states 

 that it is resident in South Carolina. Mr. Boarclman found it quite common amongst the 

 marshes of Florida; and in Texas it is at times numerous during the winter months. On the 

 west coast it was met with in considerable abundance by MacFarlane in the Anderson-river 

 district. Messrs. Dall and Bannister record it from Alaska — the former stating that it was not 

 uncommon at Nulato, and the latter that it was the only Owl observed on St. Michael's Island. 



