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trap-like mouth, with which it takes the night moths and other insects ; and this 

 is, I think, now the generally accepted theory. 



The Owls, on the other hand, belong to the order of Raptores, i.e., rapacious 

 birds, or snatchers {so called from the manner in which they strike their prey with 

 the foot), and to the family of Strigiclce or Owls, Of these our county can boast of 

 but four — viz., the White, or Barn Owl (Strix flammea) ; the Brown, or Tawny Owl 

 (Syrnium aluco) ; the Long-eared Owl (Otus vulgaris) ; and the Short-eared Owl 

 (Otus hrachiiotus). The first two are common, the Brown Owl being far more so 

 than the White ; the two latter, however, are very scarce. Whilst on the subject 

 of Owls, I would refer Mr. Bishop and any other lover of them to Dr. Kaup's 

 "Monographs of the Owls," published in Vol. IV. of the Transactions of the 

 Zoological Society, as recommended by Mr. Harting in his excellent " Handbook 

 of British Birds." 



All Owls are great destroyers of mice, which are their principal food, and 

 which alone sliould free them from the persecution of the gamekeeper, who thinks 

 that the poor Owl makes a fine show in his Museum of Natural History — viz., the 

 keeper's tree, where, nailed among cats, hawks, and crows, its numerous remains 

 help to swell the grand total. Let me, however, hope that Mr. Bishop's letter 

 may have the effect of preventing the continued destruction of his friends the 

 Owls, and that he will not relax his well-intentioned efforts ; and may the day be 

 far distant ere we have to lament the extinction of the Owl in this county as we 

 are now doing that of the Crane (Gi-us cinera), the Bustard, the Peregrine, and 

 the Bittern. 



Brecon, June 23rd, 1885. 



