Asio accipitrinus 
Lake Umbagog, Maine. 
1897. As twilight was deepening into night (in the creek beyond 
Sept.6. Moose Point) and we were thinking of starting campward a 
Short-eared Owl appeared, distinctly silhouetted against a 
light portion of the western sky and flying in the usual va¬ 
cillating, moth-like manner across the creek some sixty yards 
off. I squeaked like a mouse when the bird at once turned 
back and came straight towards us. When directly over the 
boat and at a height of not more than eight or ten feet it 
hovered for a moment looking down at us, then passed on, but 
another squeak or two brought it back at once. This was re¬ 
peated a dozen times or more and although we talked, laughed 
and moved while the bird was directly over us it did not take 
alarm or appear to suspect that we were deceiving it. Its 
hearing was most keen for the lowest squeak at once attracted 
its attention when it was a gun shot or more away. Once it 
alighted on a low stub directly behind us and some ten yards 
distant sitting very erect and still. It made no vocal sound 
and the beating of its wings, even when it was within a few 
feet of our heads, 'was perfectly noiseless. It reminded me 
most forcibly of a big moth as it flapped and sailed to and 
fro rarely following a straight course for more than a few 
yards at a time and constantly rising, falling or doubling 
sharply. 
