LONG-EARED OWL 121 
Ireland, in the latter of which it is rarely numerous, how- 
ever. It becomes scarce towards the north of Scotland, and it 
is questionable whether it has occurred in any of the outer 
groups of isles. It is a decreasing species in Galloway, 
where it is nearly extinct, and in parts of Lakeland. 
ASIO OTUS (Linn.). LONG-EARED OWL. 
Manx, Hullad, Kione-chayt 1=cat’s head (M.S. D.). (Cf. Irish, 
Ceann cuit.) Hullad (Cr.); *Hullad-screeagh, Scree- 
agagh-oie (Kermode). Hullad is used in various passages 
of the Manx Scriptures. (Cf. English, ‘ Howlet.’) 
Considering the meagre amount of woodland in Man, 
this species is well distributed, and seems to be found all 
over the island wherever there are plantations, nesting 
sometimes in very small patches of timber. It is by no 
means incommoded by the amount of daylight that reaches 
it there, and sails noiselessly, even at midday, amid the 
trees, its beauty often causing it to fall a victim to some 
chance gunner. It is also sometimes shot in quite low 
cover, even on the coast brows, suggesting, perhaps falla- 
ciously, migration. 
The Long-eared Owl is often a very early nester; in the 
neighbourhood of Douglas a nest containing three eggs and 
already three young was found as early as the 1st April, in 
1883. But a more usual time for the young to emerge 
is towards the middle or end of the same month. The eggs 
are evidently laid at considerable intervals, incubation of 
some, and deposition of others, going on at the same time. 
Four is perhaps the most frequent number of a clutch, 
1 The name Kione- (often pronounced Kyudn) chayt is also mee to the Sea 
’ Urchin (Echinus), 
