OWLS AND OWL-LIKE BIRDS. 173 



form suffice to distinguish it from other common tree- 

 haunting Owls. As evening comes on Long-Eared 

 Owls begin to snap their bills audibly and to utter a 

 mewing cry, after which they sally forth to beat over 

 the ground in plain, noiseless flight, searching for 

 small birds, and for rats, mice, and similar ground-life. 



TAWNY OWL— 15 inches ; light hill ; dark eyes ; no head- 

 tufts ; under parts with heavy^dark streaks. Notes, 

 ' Too-whit I ' and ' Too-hoo-oo I ' 



BARN OWL — 14 inches. The white Owl haunting barns and 

 church towers. Cries, a rasping screech and a breathing 

 snore. 



SHORT-EARED OWL— 15 inches. Small-headed Owl nest- 

 ing on fen and moorland, of a buflSsh. colour, densely 

 streaked above and below, and with inconspicuous head- 

 tufts. Hunts low over open ground by day or night. 

 Cries, a laugh-like yell and a baying hoot. 



SHORT-EARED OWL.— Form, resembling that of 

 Long-Eared Owl (plate 79). 15 inches. Head smaller 

 than usual with Owls ; face gray, with two inconspicu- 

 ous tufts of erectile plumes above like ears ; bill black ; 

 eyes yellow, each encircled with black feathers ; upper 

 parts, neck, and upper breast buff^ or tawny, heavily 

 streaked with dark brown ; lower breast lighter and 

 finely streaked ; belly and feathered legs and toes 

 lighter still, unstreaked ; larger wing-feathers and 

 tpl cross-ban-ed alternately with huffish and dark 

 brown. Eesident and winter migrant. 



Eggs. — 6, or more, rounded, white; 1-6 x 1-25 

 inch. 



Nest. — Only a depression among heather on the 

 moors or among sedges or reeds in the fens. 



