The Short-eared Owl is seen in the marshes, the thickets of bottom lands, and Davie says it seems to be particularly common in the tall weeds and grass of fields and meadows. In the west it is found on the extensive prairies, along sloughs, hiding in the day-time among the sage bushes and tall grass. It is a night wanderer, but often hunts its food on dark days, and field mice, moles, shrews, and other small rodents are captured by it while on noiseless wing, or while standing motionless watching for its prey. The nest of the Short-eared Owl is made on the ground in the matted grass of marsh land; sometimes in a depression at the foot of a bush, beside a log, or in a burrow made by a rabbit or a muskrat. A few sticks, soft grasses, and some of its own feathers usually comprise the nest proper, though the eggs are not infrequently laid on the bare ground. These are from four to seven, white and oval. In Ohio they are laid in April, sometimes as early as the latter part of March, or as late as the middle of May, within which dates it doubtless may be found breeding throughout the United States. Mr. Nelson says that this is the most abundant species of the Owl family. They are common everywhere in Illinois during the winter, remaining concealed in a bunch of grass or weeds until almost two o'clock p.m., when they commence flying low over the ground in search of food. When approached, while standing on the ground, they crouch and try to escape observation. They are harmless and are easily tamed, and as a rule, are silent. Mr. Nelson heard one of the birds, in Alaska, utter rapidly a loud cry which sounded like the syllables _Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo_, in a higher key than the note of the Horned Owl, and in a much less sonorous tone. When alarmed for their young, they have been heard to utter a shrill hollow cry, and at the same time make quite a noise by spitefully snapping their bills. We fancy the Owl family alone will enable BIRDS to furnish a collection of pictures--perhaps forty in number--that will fascinate the bird lover, and make him eager to possess other groups for study, wonder, and delight. [Illustration: From col. O. C. Pagin. SHORT-EARED OWL. Copyrighted by Nature Study Pub. Co., 1898, Chicago.] THE ROSE COCKATOO. I look like a foreigner, don't I? You may search through the forests of America and you won't find a bird that looks like me. My family live in New Guinea; we speak English when we get among English people, Spanish when we get among Spanish people, and French when we get among French people. If you don't believe it, just say "_Parlez-vous Francais, Monsieur?_" and see how quickly I'll open my pretty mouth and answer "_Oui._" If you don't understand that, ask your teacher what it means. I once lived in a French family, you see.