34 BIRD WORLD. 



But what do owls find in the twilight when the 

 birds are asleep ? Have you ever heard a mouse at 

 night running backward and forward in the walls ? 



Besides the mice who share your house with you, 

 there are many wild mice in the fields, and they are 

 most active at night. In w^inter, if snow falls in the 

 night, you may find their tracks all about in the morn- 

 ing. Sometimes the track ends abruptly, there are 

 signs of a scuffle, and perhaps a little blood mark may 

 be seen in the white snow. This is where the poor 

 mouse gave a pitiful shriek as the sharp claws of an 

 owl pierced his back. 



Under the apple tree, in w^hose hollow trunk the 

 owl spends the day, you will pick up curious little 

 bunches — pellets they are called — of fur, and on 

 opening one of them you will find the skull and other 

 bones of a mouse or bird. Instead of picking the flesh 

 off the bones as a hawk would, the owl crushes the 

 skull and large bones, and swallows his victim head first ; 

 then in his stomach the indigestible portions, the fur- 

 feathers, or bones, are rolled into this curious pellet 

 and cast forth. 



The commonest owl near cities is called the 

 Screech Owl ; he is not larger than a small chicken, 

 is reddish gray, with two tufts of feathers like ears. 

 His note is a mournful but gentle wailing sound, and 

 is often heard on moonlight nights in the autumn. 



