388 



GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



The owls (Fig. 204) are birds with large eyes and soft, 

 fluffy plumage. They feed almost exclusively on mice and 

 other rodents, though some species are guilty of eating song 

 birds. The great horned owl is even convicted of stealing 

 poultry. The screech owl and most of the other species are 

 not only harmless but render real service in keeping down 



the population of rats 

 and mice. While feed- 

 ing they usually swal- 

 low their prey entire. 

 After the food is di- 

 gested the hair and 

 bones are formed in- 

 to compact masses 

 and ejected from the 

 mouth. Owl roosts are 

 frequently located by 

 the presence of these 

 hard pellets on the 

 ground beneath the 

 trees. 



Parrots and Cocka- 

 toos. ThePsit'taci(Gr. 

 psittakos, ' * parrot ' ' ) 

 are generally birds of gaudy colors, with a very stout, 

 strongly hooked beak, which is used for climbing, as well as 

 for crushing seeds. They have four toes, arranged two in 

 front and two behind, with strong, curved claws (Fig. 197). 

 Most species inhabit forests; they are all good climbers. 

 A great many species can learn to talk, but the red-tailed 

 gray parrot of Africa is considered the best talker. The 

 cockatoos are often ornamented with crest feathers of vari- 

 ous colors. They are restricted to Australia, Tasmania, and 

 the Philippines. A New Zealand parrot, the kea (Nes'tor 



Fig. 204. Photograph of a barred owl 



