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had one of these birds in a conservatory, where I also kept a 
number of canaries in cages hanging against the wall. At one 
time the place was over-run with mice, who used to climb up into 
the canaries cages after the seed, they grew so bold, that when I 
went into the place at night, instead of running away, they would 
get between the cages and the wall; all that I had to do to kill 
them was to press the cages against the wall. One night I had 
killed a great number, so I thought I would try the capacity of 
my friend, Mr. Owl, he managed to get down sixteen but failed 
at the seventeenth. He took them all in the manner I have 
described, head downwards. 
Bishop Stanley says, ‘Generally speaking a more useful race 
of birds does not exist ; since, with the exception of one or two 
of the larger species, their food consists entirely of vermin and 
insects, very prejudicial to our crops; and which, but for these 
nocturnal hunters, might do serious mischief. A striking instance 
of their utility occurred some years ago in the neighbourhood of 
Bridgwater, where during the summer such incredible numbers of, 
mice overran the country as to destroy a large portion of the 
vegetation; and their ravages might have extended to an 
alarming degree, had it not been for a sudden assemblage of 
Owls, which resorted from all parts to prey on them.” As many 
‘as twenty-eight Owls have been counted in one single field, 
collected together, no doubt by swarms of mice, which, in a 
favourable season, had been bred there. Mr. Waterton says that 
“if this useful bird caught its food by day instead of hunting for 
it at night, mankind would have ocular demonstration of its utility 
in thinning the country of mice.” When it has young, it will 
bring a mouse to the nest every twelve or fifteen minutes. 
Although so small, it is a terrible bird to fight, and when it 
‘flings itself defiantly on its back, ire glancing from its eyes, and 
its sharp claws drawn up to its breast ready to strike as soon as 
its antagonist shall come within range, it is really a formidable 
foe, and will test the nerves of a man to some extent before he 
B 
