THE LOXO-EAUEl) OWI.. 
of November 1870, a pair were killed at the same })lace, also 
after a north-west wind. I was surprised to find that in all 
three examples the stomach was quite filled with remains of 
mice, although the garden was swarming with small birds, sucli 
as chaffinches and mountain linnets. A fourth specimen was 
sent to me by Thomas Edmondston, Esq., of Buness, in whose 
garden it had been killed in the winter of 1871. It is scarcely 
probable that during my long residence in Shetland I could 
have previously overlooked so conspicuous and remarkable a 
species ; therefore it is not a little singular that, being pre- 
viously unknown, four examples of it should have occurred 
during as many successive years. It may very possibly visit 
other parts of Shetland, where the attempt to raise shrubs 
in sheltered gardens has succeeded, but hitherto no authentic 
instance has been recorded. 
THE SHORT-EABED OWL. 
Otus hrachyotus. 
CATYOGLE, GREY or BROWN YOGLE — HAWK OWL. 
This was doubtless the Screech Owl ’’ or White Owl ” of 
the earlier observers, no mention of it under its usual name 
being made, although it is quite common in spring and autumn, 
on rare occasions even remaining to breed in Yell and Main- 
land. The average times of arrival are April 25th and 
October 16th. The eggs have been sent to me from Yell, and 
once in the month of June I found a nest of young among the 
tall heather between Bardister and Ollaberry, in North Mavine; 
bat I feel it unnecessary to enter into details, trusting that all 
who read these pages are well acquainted with the description 
contained in ]Mr Crichton’s '' Naturalist’s Ramble to .the 
Orcades,” and with the charmingly natural group and surround- 
ings which appear as a frontispiece to his as charming little 
book. The number of eggs laid by the Short-eared Owl still 
seems to be unsettled by ornithologists ; for like many of the 
