172 LAND BIRDS 
the feeding of the young was done at night, and each 
morning witnessed a fresh heap of debris under the nest- 
hole, as well as in the nest itself. This habit of leaving 
all the remains of undigested food heaped just outside 
the burrow seems to me particularly stupid, but I have 
found it the case with burrowing owls also. Most birds 
are careful to remove all trace from the vicinity, in order 
not to betray the nesting place, as well as for cleanliness. 
The parent Owls were remarkably silent when at the 
nest tree, uttering no sound beyond an occasional odd 
chuck when one arrived with food for the young before 
the other had left it. After careful observation, we 
decided that the young were fed upon insects at first, 
and afterwards upon mice. The adults came and went 
every half-hour during the evening, and our presence so 
near did not seem to bother them in the least. One of 
them usually sat on the stump, pending the absence of 
the other, but not infrequently both left at the same 
time. The young Owls remained in the nest tree eight 
weeks, and then, one day, were seen sitting side by side 
among the thick foliage of a neighboring oak. 
This species is strictly nocturnal in habits, and is one 
of the most important aids to the farmer in ridding him 
of mice and insects, though song birds and sparrows are 
also among its victims. Like most birds of prey, it is 
fond of bathing, and may be found just at dusk or dawn 
in a quiet corner of a small brook or pond, splashing and 
ducking energetically with evident enjoyment. I have 
watched one shake himself after such a bath until his 
mandibles rattled like castanets, and a funnier sight I 
