180 Tue Birps Asout US. 
The Short-eared Owl is a bird of very different 
habits, but equally harmless and beneficial. It is 
largely migratory and to a limited extent resident. 
Its common name of Marsh-owl is an appropriate 
one, for these birds appear annually in considerable 
numbers in the reedy flats and low meadows, and 
have learned to vary their ordinary diet with a 
wounded reed-bird now and then. I have often been 
startled by having one of these birds get up directly 
in front of me with a broad spread of wing and a 
grunt that made me for the instant uncertain whether 
the bird was an owl ora bittern. In the lower or 
tide-water meadows of the Delaware River this owl 
occasionally remains throughout the year and nests 
here. Their nests, under ordinary circumstances, are 
placed upon the ground, but in one instance, in a 
huge hollow of an old maple, I found the nest on 
the bottom of this natural excavation. The opening 
leading to it was very large, and the whole surround- 
ings in nowise suggested the dark hole that would 
be chosen by a screech-owl or a sparrow-hawk. 
The Barred Owl is not common in all localities, 
and if there is not considerable uncleared land in 
which to harbor, is only a casual visitor; but the 
huge fellow with his pale face and black eyes is not 
forgotten when we have once seen him. As might 
be inferred from the size of this owl, it is not averse 
to a pullet for a meal, and so has brought down upon 
its head the condemnation of the poultry-keeper ; 
but the damage done in this way is unquestionably 
greatly exaggerated, and, of course, the good done 
in destroying mice is held of little or no importance. 
