1897-98-] Castings of Otvls. 34.1 



VI.— CASTINGS OF OWLS. 

 By Mr A. B. HERBERT. 



{Read Feb. 23, 1898.) 



Very recently a schoolboy found in a hollow tree near Guild- 

 ford a number of small bones, which were carefully washed 

 and brought to me for identification. There can be no doubt 

 they are the castings of owls. They afford very convincing 

 evidence of the utility of owls in the destruction of mice, and 

 it is lamentable that so many of these useful birds should be 

 destroyed by ignorant and prejudiced gamekeepers. It is my 

 impression that many of the bones are those of field -voles 

 (Arvicola agrcstis). The skulls of birds are those of hard- 

 billed species, probably sparrows or chaffinches. 



Many years ago I kept a barn-owl in a large walled garden : 

 he had one wing clipped, and became very tame, sleeping by 

 day in a barrel, minus one end, placed horizontally, and 

 wandering about the garden at night. By imitating in some 

 degree the squeaking of a mouse, I could always bring him to 

 the open end of the barrel for his food, which consisted of 

 mice, small birds, and raw meat. He pinched the mice with 

 his beak, perhaps to fracture the ribs, and then swallowed 

 them entire, head foremost. His treatment of a bird was 

 somewhat peculiar. Placing it under his claws, he first 

 wrenched off the head and swallowed it ; then he pulled off 

 and rejected the tail and flight feathers of the wings ; and 

 lastly, taking the neck in his beak, by a series of spasmodic 

 jerks the entire bird disappeared. I was not at that time 

 aware that owls eject from their beaks the indigestible portions 

 of their food, till on one occasion, on feeding my pet, he stood 

 a short time near the food, and then, after many strange 

 contortions of his head, the beak was opened wide and a black 

 ball ejected. He immediately after took his food as usual. 

 On examining the casting, I found it consisted of bones, fur, 

 and feathers, the indigested remains of previous meals. 



That owls are viewed by other birds as enemies I had once 

 undoubted evidence. My owl had ventured out by daylight, 

 and on hearing blackbirds uttering their sharp cries of alarm 



