Crass I. SHORT EARED OWL: 
This.is a bird of paffage, and has been obferved 
to vifit Lincolnjbire the beginning of Ofeber, and 
to retire early in the fpring; fo probably, as it 
erforms its migrations with the woodcock, its 
Be ccs retreat is Norway. During day it lies 
hid in long old grafs; when difturbed, it fel- 
dom flies far, but will light and fit looking at 
205 
one, at which time the horns may be feen very | 
diftinctly. It has not been obferved to perch on 
trees, like other owls : it will alfo fly in fearch of 
prey in cloudy hazy weather.. Farmers are 
fond of feeing thefe birds in their fields, as they 
clear them from mice. It is found, frequently 
on the hill of Hoy in the Orkuies, where it flies 
about and preys by day like a hawk. I have 
alfo received this fpecies from Lancafbire, which 
is a hilly and wooded country: and my friends 
have alfo fent it from New England and New- 
foundland. 
The length of the fhort eared owl is fourteen 
DEScrRIP. 
inches: extent three feet: the head is fmall and — 
hawk-like: the bill is dufky: weight fourteen 
ounces: the circle of feathers that immediately 
furrounds the eyes is black: the larger circle 
white, terminated with tawny and black: the fea- 
thers on the head, back, and coverts of the wings 
are brown edged with pale dull yellow: the breaft 
and belly are of the fame color, marked with a 
few long narrow ftreaks of brown pointing down- 
| ae wards ; 
