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SHORT-EARED OWL. 
heath; arrives and disappears in the south parts of England 
with the Woodcock, that is, in October and April; con- 
sequently does not breed there. It is called at Hudson’s 
Bay, the Mouse Hawk ; and is described as not flying, like 
other Owls, in search of prey, but sitting quiet, on a stump of 
a tree, watching for mice. It is said to be found in plenty 
in the woods near Chatteau Bay, on the coast of Labrador. 
In the United States, it is also a bird of passage, coming to 
us from the north in November, and departing in April. 
The bird represented in the plate was shot in New Jersey, 
small rivulet in Dumfries-shire,) I have, for many years past, met with one 
or two pairs of these birds, and the accidental discovery of their young first 
turned my attention to the range of their breeding ; for, previous to this, I also 
held the opinion, that they had commenced their migration southward. The 
young was discovered by one of my dogs pointing it; and, on the following year, 
by searching at the proper season, two nests were found with five eggs. They 
were formed upon the ground among the .heath ; the bottom of the nest 
scraped until the fresh earth appeared, on which the eggs were placed, without 
any lining or other accessory covering. When approaching the nest or young, 
the old birds fly and hover round, uttering a shrill cry, and snapping with their 
bills. They will then alight at a short distance, survey the aggressor, and 
again resume their flight and cries. The young are barely able to fly by the 
12th of August, and appear to leave the nest some time before they are able to 
rise from the ground. I have taken them, on that great day to sportsmen, 
squatted on the heath like young black game, at no great distance from each 
other, and always attended by the parent birds. Last year (1881) I found 
them in their old haunts, to which they appear to return very regularly ; and 
the female, with a young bird, was procured ; the young could only fly for 
sixty or seventy yards. * 
In form, this species will bear the same analogy to those furnished with 
horns, which the Snowy Owl bears to the earless birds. The name of Hawk 
Owl implies more activity and boldness, and a different make ; and we find the 
head small, the body more slender, the wings and tail powerful. They hunt 
regularly by day, and will sometimes soar to a great height. They feed on 
small birds, and destroy young game, as well as mice and moles. 
It seems to have a pretty extensive geographical range. Pennant mentions 
it as inhabiting the Falkland Isles. It extends to Siberia ; and I have received 
it from the neighbourhood of Canton, in China. — Ed. 
* A specimen was shot in December (1831,) on the same ground, and one was seen when 
drawing a whin covert for a fox, on 31st January, 1832. I believe some reside during the 
whole year. — Ed. 
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