No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 28l 



More consistently useful than either of these Owls is the 

 Long-eared Owl (Asio wilsonianus) ; for its food is almost 

 wholly field mice, as many as eight having been found in one 

 stomach; and it is deserving of most thorough protection. It 

 is by no means common through most of the state, and is usually 

 shot at sight. Dr. Warren writes : " I have examined the 

 stomachs of twenty-three Long-eared Owls, and found that 

 twenty-two of them had fed only on mice ; the other examination 

 made of a specimen taken in the late spring, showed some beetles 

 and portions of a small bird." Dr. Fisher reports that, of 107 

 stomachs examined, 1 contained a game-bird; 15, other birds; 

 84, mice; 5, other mammals; 1, insects; and 15 were empty. Of 

 14 examined by the author, 6 were empty ; the other 8 all con- 

 tained mammals, chiefly mice; and 1, a small bird. 



About the villages and orchards the little Screech Owl (Otus 

 asio asio) is by far the most abundant of our owls, and un- 

 doubtedly helps in keeping down the number of English Spar- 

 rows, although mice and insects are the chief diet. It has been 

 known to kill quail and woodcock, though rarely ; and once sixteen 

 horned pouts were found in the nest of this bird in the depth 

 of winter. All authorities agree that its food in summer consists 

 chiefly of insects. Mr. George C. Jones of Brookfield Center, 

 Connecticut, writes in Dr. Fisher's work that he has found cut- 

 worms in the stomachs of the Long-eared Owl and this species, 

 and believes these birds the most efficient exterminators of this 

 pest so formidable to tobacco growers. Of 255 stomachs reported 

 by Dr. Fisher, 1 contained poultry; 38, other birds; 91, mice; 

 11, other mammals; 2, lizards; 4, batrachians; 1, fish; 100, in- 

 sects; 5, spiders; 9, crawfish; 2, scorpions; 2, earthworms; 7, 

 miscellaneous material; and 43 were empty. Of 27 stomachs 

 examined by Dr. Warren, 20 contained mice and insects; 5, 

 small birds; and 2, small birds and insects. Of 7 examined by 

 the author, 3 were empty; 3 contained mammals, chiefly mice; 



and 1, insects. 



Our smallest owl, the Saw-whet or Acadian (Crypto glaux 

 acadica acadica) seems to be rare throughout the state, and has 

 only been taken at all frequently during the winter. Many of 

 those recorded have been found dead, apparently starved. Mice 

 are almost its only food, although an entire flying squirrel has 



