SHORT-EARED OWL. 



ASIO BRACHYOTUS {Forster). 



Strix brachyotos, Forster, Phil. Trans, lxii. p. 384 (1772). 

 Strix brachyotis, Naum. i. p. 459. 

 Asio brachyotus, Macg. iii. p. 461. 

 Otos brachyotos, Hewitson, i. p. 58. 



Asio accipitrinus, Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 163; Dresser, v. p. 257. 



Hibou brachr/ote, French ; Sumpf-Ohreule , kurzbhrige 

 Eule, German j Cdrabo, Lechuza campestre, Spanish. 



The Short-eared Owl is most generally known in 

 England as an autumnal migrant ; but a few pairs still 

 breed in certain fens and moorlands in our country, 

 which, in the interest of the bird, I refrain from speci- 

 fying ; in certain parts of Scotland and its adjacent 

 islands it nests pretty commonly, and is very frequently 

 met with in Ireland in winter. The habits of this Owl 

 differ from those of almost all the other species of its 

 family in the fact that the present bird is eminently 

 terrestrial, seldom alighting on trees, and preferring open 

 country with covert of heath, fern, or sedge. We often 

 meet with this Otvl in turnip-fields or rough pasture- 

 lands in the midlands towards the end of October, 

 sometimes in considerable numbers, but, as a rule, singly 

 or in couples ; in West Norfolk, at the same season, I 



