108 BIRDS OP PENNSYLVANIA. 



367. Asio accipitrinus (PALL.). 



Short-eared Owl. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Ear-tufts very short ; entire plumage buff or pale-fulvous ; every feather on the 

 upper parts with a wide longitudinal stripe of dark-brown, which color predominates 

 on the back ; under parts paler, frequently nearly white on the abdomen^ with 

 longitudinal stripes of brownish-black, most numerous on the breast, very narrow 

 and less numerous on the abdomen and flanks ; legs and toes usually of a deeper 

 shade of the same color as the abdomen ; quills pale reddish- fulvous at their bases, 

 brown at their ends, with wide irregular bands and large spots of reddish-fulvous ; 

 tail pale reddish-fulvous, with about five irregular transverse bands of dark-brown, 

 which color predominates on the two central feathers; under tail coverts usually 

 nearly white ; throat white ; eyes enclosed by large spots of brownish-black ; ear- 

 tufts brown, edged with fulvous ; bill and claws dark ; irides yellow. 



Total length : Female, about 15 inches ; wing, 12 ; tail, 6 inches. Male, rat her 

 smaller. 



Hab. Throughout North America ; nearly cosmopolitan. 



The vulgar name of Marsh Owl is quite appropriate, as this species 

 frequents mostly during is sojourn in this region marshy districts and 

 grass fields. Sometimes small parties of five, eight or even ten indi- 

 viduals, will be found in favorite grassy retreats. 



According to my observation the Short-eared Owl occurs in Penn- 

 sylvania as a tolerably common winter resident, arriving from more 

 northern latitudes, early in November and departing early in April. 

 Turnbull, in his u Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania," records it as a win- 

 ter resident, u not uncommon." The Messrs. Baird speak of it as 

 " abundant ; not seen in summer," and Dr. Michener says : " Resi- 

 dent, frequent in winter; rare in summer." Audubon found a nest of 

 this Owl in Pennsylvania on one of the high mountain ridges of the 

 Great Pine Forest on June 17. In reference to this " find " he writes : 

 " It contained four eggs, nearly ready to be hatched. They were of a 

 dull bluish-white, of a somewhat elongated or elliptical form, meas- 

 uring an inch and a half in length, and an inch and an eighth in 

 breadth. The nest was placed under a low bush, and covered over by 

 tall grass, through which a path had been made by the bird. It was 

 formed of dry grass, raked together in a slovenly manner and quite 

 flat, but covering a large space, on one side of which were found many 

 pellets* and two field mice. I should never have discovered their nest 

 had not the sitting bird made a noise by clicking its bill as I was 

 passing close by. The poor thing was so intent on her task that 1 

 almost put my hand on her before she moved; and then, instead of 

 flying off, she hopped with great leaps until about ten yards from me, 

 keeping up a constant clicking of her mandibles. Having satisfied 

 myself as to the species, made an outline of two of the eggs and meas- 

 ured them, I proceeded slowly to a short distance and watched her 



