46 BIKDS OF NOKPOLK. 



notes on this owl to Mr. Gould's magnificent work on 

 ^^The Birds of Great Britain," which I quote more 

 especially from their testimony to the useful qualities 

 of this attractive species. " I do not know many sights 

 more engaging to a naturalist than one which often 

 presents itself on peering into a thickly growing Scotch 

 fir-tree. A family party of some half-dozen long-eared 

 owls may be descried perched in close proximity to the 

 observer's head. Their bodies are drawn up perpen- 

 dicularly, and attenuated in a most marvellous manner, 

 the ear-tufts nearly erect, or, if not exactly parallel to 

 one another, sKghtly inclined inwards. Exce^Dt these, 

 there is nothing to break the stiff rectangle of the birds' 

 outline. Thus they sit, one and all, swaying slowly 

 upon one foot, and gravely winking one eye at the 

 intruder. Underneath such an owl-roost as this is cer- 

 tain to be found a large quantity of the pellets ejected by 

 its frequenters, and a good notion of their usual food is to 

 be gathered from an examination of the same. Half- 

 grown rats and mice, chiefly the former, constitute the 

 staple, but small birds contribute no small share ; and 

 I have recognised among the remains, unquestionable 

 bones of the wheatear, willow wren, chafiinch, green- 

 finch, bullfinch, and yellow bunting. How the owls 

 catch them I am unable to say, but I am bound to 

 mention that never in a single instance have I dis- 

 covered a trace of any game-bird, and I feel assured 

 that the keepers, who wage war against the long-eared 

 owl for the protection of their young pheasants or 

 partridges, are not only giving themselves unnecessary 

 trouble, but are also guilty of the folly of exterminating 

 their best friends; for the number of rats destroyed by 

 this species is enormous, and I look upon the rat as the 

 game preserver's worst enemy." Mr. Spalding, of 

 Westleton, informs me that on one occasion he knew of 

 a long-eared owl snared on her nest, which was placed^ 



