BIRDS. 



171 



By 1899 it was stated to have been "more common formerly in 

 Kincardineshire than it is of late years. Indeed, it may almost prove 

 to be extinct." 



o otus [L.). Long-eared Owl. 



Resident. Common. Breeds. 



In the north-east Mr. J. Milne's list includes it as resident, but by 

 no means common, and adds : "I have had the eggs." 



In the north-west the keeper at Killiechassie, near Aberfeldy, 

 who had just killed one (April 1901), remarked to the late Rev. H. A. 

 Macpherson that this bird fed upon young rabbits, and that some 

 individuals are also fond of birds, and will carry off tiny game-birds ! 

 To this I can only add my belief that the remark is true, if the Owls 

 get the chance, but a good keeper should be quite able to guard against 

 this at night as regards Pheasants ; and as for wild game, there are 

 not so very many exposed to these attacks at night if the parent hen 

 does her duty ! I do not say that the Killiechassie keeper is a lazy 

 man, but I am well aware that the above statement is often put in by 

 those who are — i.e. blame anything and everything except their own 

 inefficiency. If some Owls are encouraged to seek their food, say 

 amongst the young Pheasants, it may well become a bad practice and 

 become confirmed ; but if they have plenty of more natural supplies 

 —lots, for instance, of mice, and voles, and young rats in the night- 

 time — they will be well satisfied with that. Many gamekeepers 

 consider it beneath their position to be a ratcatcher ! In such cases 

 they may be said to be getting too hig for tJieir hoots. 



By 1888 the Long-eared Owl occurred as far up country as Loch 

 Ericht Lodge, as evidenced by one sent to M'Leay thence, and as I 

 have been informed of late ; but I cannot find that I have any notes 

 of its presence there greati}^ before that time. Also, a few are found 

 about Rannoch. 



It was found also in the south-west at Lochearnhead by Mr. 

 Godfrey in 1904. It occurs at many intermediate localities, if not 

 indeed generally over all, and has often been met with by myself. 

 Instances are really too frequent to require detail, unless at the more 

 extreme points. 



A statement that a large flight of these birds appeared near 

 Scotscraig could not be taken seriously. The probability is that some 

 misunderstanding had taken place, and that the notes really referred 

 to Sand-Grouse. Mr. ^y. Berry has kindly investigated this at my 



