Jan., 1919 ; NESTING OF SHORT-EARED OWL 23 
young occupied the nest, and they were rudely spilled out when the old bird left. 
One was big and strong, but the other was very small and weak. The larger bird 
snapped his bill in true owl fashion. There were no remains of the other two 
eggs, but we strongly suspect a crow had something to do with their disappear- 
ance, as four white eggs, exposed, can be seen from quite a distance, and this 
section is a common flyway of crows. 
There were no signs of food about the nest, except a quantity of small bird 
feathers, which startled us somewhat, as we never had cause to suspect these owls 
of preying upon birds of any kind. The wing of a Lutescent Warbler was easily 
recognized, and there were plenty of feathers of either the Russet-backed or the 
Alaska Hermit Thrush, as well as those of the Western Meadowlark. The maie 
bird was not seen on this trip and the female left at once. 
Visiting nest number two, we found that all three eggs had hatched, and it 
contained two large owlets and one little fellow several days younger. The nest 
Fig. 7. NEST AND EGGS OF SHORT-EAhED OWL. THE FIRST SET FOUND. 
Photo by J. H. Bowles. 
also held a headless mouse, and a quantity of bird feathers. We identified the 
Lutescent Warbler, likewise thrush feathers and some undoubtedly of the West- 
ern Savannah Sparrow.‘ The female allowed a nearer approach than before, 
about fifteen feet, and hovered over our heads at a distance of perhaps a hun- 
dred yards. 
We were here treated to a most ridiculous performance by the male bird. 
While watching the female we suddenly heard an awful groaning and chuckling 
sound behind us. This was the male and he was mad clear through, darting 
back and forth and uttering these awful sounds. Finally, he could stand it no 
longer and literally dove into a bunch of high weeds, where he twisted and 
turned, and to watch the tops of the weeds one would think that nothing less than 
a death struggle was going on. Finding this would not decoy us he joined his 
mate, and they circled overhead, while we took several snap shots and departed. 
My next visit was on May 25, one week later. I visited the first nest, but 
