168 BRITISH BIRDS. 



throughout the United States^ where a few remain to breed, some passing 

 still further south to Central America, the West Indies, and tropical South 

 America. It has been found throughout South America, breeding at Buenos 

 Ayres and Patagonia and probably throughout the Chilian subregion. The 

 South- American birds are probably also partial migrants, and in their 

 Avintcr- quarters may meet the birds from North America. 



TTie habits of the Short-eared Owl are very different from those of any 

 other British species, and thus lend an additional interest to the bird. 

 Unlike the other members of this gloom-loving family of birds, the present 

 species rarely in this country frequents woods or plantations, nor does 

 it haunt ruins, barns, or hollow trees. Its home is in the exposed and 

 open parts of the country, the broad-stretching meadow-lands and turnip- 

 fields, commons and dense furze-brakes, sedgy mar.shlands and the flat 

 uninviting and monotonous fens. From its peculiar habit of frequenting 

 the open, the Short-eared Owl is perhaps more often seen than any other 

 0-n'l ; and it is from this circumstance that the bird is considered to 

 be numerous and widely diiSused. Although generally a migratory bird, 

 a few are permanently resident in suitable districts — where it was formerly 

 a far more common resident than it is at the present day, being now only 

 represented in the summer by a few straggling pairs. 



The great autumn migration of the Short-eared Owl takes place in 

 October, from the second week to the end of the month, the time during 

 which the Woodcock also makes its appearance. From this circum- 

 stance and from the fact that both the birds choose similar haunts upon 

 their arrival here, the Short-eared Owl has gained for itself the name 

 of " Woodcock-Owl." Short-eared Owls migrate in companies, and, 

 iu fact, are more or less gregarious during the whole of the winter, as 

 many as twenty birds having been flushed within a comparatively small 

 space of ground. The flight-nets on the Lincolnshire coast unerringly 

 proclaim the advent of this Owl upon our shores ; and during the mi- 

 gration period it is one of the commonest birds taken in them. Short-eared 

 Owls migrate at night ; and they do not seem to fly at any great height 

 above the waves whilst pursuing their journey, for these nets arc but a 

 few feet from the surface of the sea. Strangely enough, however, their 

 companion the Woodcock is seldom, very seldom taken in the nets, leading 

 us to suppose that it flies much higher through the air and drops suddenly 

 down from above as soon as the shore is reached. Upon its arrival 

 here the Short-eared Owl betakes itself to turnip-fields, stubbles, the 

 sides of hedgerows, or the tall herbage on the banks of a stream, and dry 

 ditches overgrown with coarse vegetation. Upon being flushed it flies 

 quickly off with undulating motion, swaying its body fi-om side to side 

 alternately, much after the manner of the smaller Gulls. This Owl is 

 perhaps less incommoded by the light than any other species, and may 



