282 
LONG-EARED OWL. 
we have not yet, however, ascertained its range 
northward. In Ireland, Mr Thompson remarks, 
it is resident; and where a sufficient extent of 
weed exists, as in Down and Antrim, it is a 
common species. According to this gentleman’s 
observations, it also strays considerably from its 
cover, being known to be shot, in the dusk of the 
evening, a mile from high water mark, in Belfast 
Bay, by a person waiting in a barrel (sunk in the 
ooze) for the flying of widgeon.* In other parts 
of the world, the distribution is extensive. 
The colouring and distribution of the markings, 
in this species, is more akin to what we saw pre- 
vailed in the Tawny Owl ; a chaste blending of 
ockraceous, white, and gray, reminding one of the 
shades which prevail among the Caprimulgidce. 
The long egrets and brilliant eyes give to it also 
a peculiar aspect, and altogether it is the most 
striking among our native species. The ruff is 
complete; the tips of the feathers being black, 
shew almost a circle of that colour around to 
the inner angle of the eyes, and folding over 
the bill; the feathers are white, bordered with 
black, immediately next the eye ; the outer part 
of the disk is yellowish brown The forehead, 
and the part immediately behind the conchal 
opening, is finely marked with delicate undulations 
of gray, white, and ochraceous ; the egrets are 
Mag. of Zool. and Bot. ii. p. 177. 
