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trouble is that we have too few of them. If, however, public opinion can be 

 brought to bear on this important matter before it is too late, and the 

 wanton and useless destruction of our beneficial hawks and owls be stopped at once, 

 the balance of nature may be restored, to the great advantage of mankind. 



The following shows the result of Dr. Fisher's investigation of the food 

 habits of the owls as reported to the Department of Agriculture at Washington. 



Great Horned Owl. 127 stomachs examined; 31 contained poultry or game 

 birds; 8, other birds; 13, mice; 65, other mammals; 1, insects, etc.; 1, fish, and 17 

 were empty. 



This shows that, although the bird does some injury by its raids upon game and 

 poultry, yet its evil propensities are somewhat counterbalanced by its destruction of 

 mice, rats, rabbits and other small mammals. It is the only one of the owls about 

 whose record for good there can be any doubt. All the others should be protected, 

 while this one should certainly be killed oft' if it begins visiting the barnyard. 



Long-eared Oivl. 107 stomachs examined; 1 contained a game bird; 15, other 

 birds; 81, contained mice; 5 other mammals; 1, insects, and 15 were empty. 



Short-eared Oivl. 101 stomachs examined: 11 contained small birds; 77 con- 

 tained mice ; 7, other mammals ; 7, insects, and 14 were empty. My own experience 

 shows a larger proportion of small birds than the above. 



Barred Oivl. 109 stomachs examined: 5 contained poultry or game birds; 13 

 other birds; 46, mice; 18, other mammals; 16, frogs, lizards, etc.; 16, insects, etc., 

 and 20 were empty. 



Screech Owl. 254 stomachs examined: 1 contained the remains of a pigeon ; 38, 

 other ibirds; 91, mice; 11, other small mammals; 25, frogs, lizards, etc.; 107, insects, 

 etc., and 43 were empty. 



The above examinations of the stomachs of our resident species show most 

 positively that, with the exception of the Great Horned Owl, the whole family are 

 of the greatest value to the farmer. My own experience, both in Manitoba and 

 Ontario, corroborates this, and is perhaps a little more favorable to the owls, for 

 ( always excepting the Great Horned Owl ) I have never found a trace of a game bird 

 or domestic fowl in any of them. 



GEEAT HOENED OWL. 



Description. 



Ear-Tufts conspicuous, nearly two inches in length. Plumage varies greatly : 

 in general the upper parts are mottled with varying shades of buff and brown ; facial 

 disc buff; a white collar on the throat, rest of the under parts greyish v/hite or buff; 

 barred with black. Legs and feet feathered. Eyes yellow. 



L., 22.00: W., 15.00; T., 8.50. 



Nest, sometimes in a hollow tree, a cleft in rocks or among the branches of a 

 high tree, very often an old hawk's, or crow's, nest is occupied. Eggs, three or four, 

 round, white. 



