174 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
cause. There are very few left now."* Dr. J. W. Martin 
in 1901 records that a pair used to nest at Dardarroch, but 
had not done so for many years.f Mr. R. Armstrong, whose 
knowledge of the birds of Upper Nithsdale is extensive, 
describes the species to me as being very rare, and says he has 
only once seen a nest, in the ruins of Morton Old Castle. 
The nesting-period of this species is well known to be 
very prolonged, and a young bird in down, three weeks old, 
was brought to WilHam Hastings in December, 1883.^ 
In 1839 we read : " In an opening behind the Coat of 
Arms cut over the portals of the inner court at Drum- 
lanrig, a pair of Barn-Owls have brought forth their young 
for the last eight years. "§ 
It is much to be regretted that the Barn-Owl should 
have so diminished, as it is one of the farmer's best 
friends. Mr. Fred. V. Theobald writes that it " lives mostly 
on voles, long-tailed field-mice, and small birds."|| 
The characteristic cry of this bird is more of a loud and 
fearful shriek than a hoot, but Sir WiUiam Jardine has 
stated : " This species does hoot, for I have shot them in 
the act. They also hiss and scream, but at night, when not 
alarmed, hooting is the general cry."Tl 
THE LONG-EARED OWL. Asio otus (Linnaeus). 
Local names— Horned Owl ; Wee Horned Owl ; Ltjggie. 
A common resident in well-wooded localities. 
After writing of the sorry decrease of the preceding species 
it is satisfactory to be able to state that the Long-eared 
* Trans. D. and Q. Nat. Hist. Soc, November 16th, 1900. 
t Op. ciL, December 13th, 1901. 
X Op. ciL, November 7th, 1884. 
§ Dumfries Courier, May 22nd, 1839. 
II Science Progress, 1907, Vol. II., p. 268. 
^ White's Selborne, 1851, p. 158. 
