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Short-eared Owl. 
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^CX_A 
This little owl, so far as my observation ^ A!// /) 
has extended, seems peculiar to the coast, j*^*-**^ * 
where among the reeds and thick marshes Jjf" ^ 
of the shores and neighboring islands it 
finds a covert from the noisy world. Hav- 
ing found such a place they, unlike all 
other New England owls, build in colo- 
nies. A locality not far from here has been 
from my earliest recollection a breeding 
place for these owls. The situation is 
most desirable, being a meadow or flat 
level with the coast, over which the tide 
completely flows, but leaves it entirely dry 
when it recedes. This meadow is covered 
with a coarse grass and surrounded by tall 
brakes and reeds. In these latter they 
gather together the remains of last year’s 
frost-bitten reeds and place them in a 
promiscuous heap on a tussock. This is 
afterward hollowed out and the set of 
eggs is then laid. Six is the largest num- 
ber I ever found, with the exception of one 
nest, in which I found ten; but these were 
laid by two females who sat together on 
the same nest in, perfect harmony. Incu- 
bation was difficult to determine, but I 
cannot make it out to be more than twenty- 
one days. If any of your readers would 
be kind enough to give me the exact time 
it would be gratefully received. No owl 
is more interesting- to watch. Take some 
dark, cloudy day in May or June, repair to 
their haunts and they will be found lightly 
skimming over the surface of the ground 
seeking for food left by the receding tide, 
or again diligently searching the immediate 
upland for any unwary mouse. Or watch 
them again in the deepening twilight, as 
silently, without a single note, they flit 
past, seeming but a passing thought or 
fanciful vision, until you hear from the 
shore the shrill cry of a Tern or Sandpiper 
in his talons; then you awaken to the fact 
that it is a rapacious bird acting well its 
part in nature’s great drama, “ The Survi- 
val of the Fittest.” — F. H. Carpenter , 
Fehobeth , Mass. Q.&O, VHl.Nov.1883. p. 
7-5 
