226 



vary in iliffirenl loialitiis. In eastern rennsylvania, generally 



a liiillow iioi\ rlii<'ll\ an applr or an oak is ehusen, bill oe- 



ra.-- .ii)\ .1 ,|ii:i i.i.i.M . ii iii^l 1111^'. .iiiiii'il barn; but more 



i-a I . l\ , ,11, .M , ii: 'i .: I'll 1 : 1 1 1 ■ ]■) MMiiiiiy to man. When 



111' I. Mil : 11! ■ I licilli'w is lined with a 



T'u .III u 1.1 - III 1 ! I h I : iihMmh iiistaMi_-os are not 



uiur.Miiiiiii l\ ni-'i uiili w I ih. ii-i;- ,11. .;.1"'mI.iI upon bare 



bollMMi. In liu' lait.i |it I -^ .1 I . w III; I I. n-ititulc a 



part of the builiiins.' .\i-stiiif; ouilnaiilj lalvi^ i.luL-e early in 

 Mareh, although we have observed newly-built nests in the 

 latter part of February. Ovlposition commences about the sec- 

 ond weelv of March. The number of eggs laid varies from three 

 to four, \evy rarely more. » • » xhe eggs are some- 

 what sub-spherical, scarcely more pointed at one extremity 

 than the other, unless in exceptional cases; of a bluish-white 

 color, and measure 1.67 inches in length, and 1.37 in width. 

 They vary, however, in size in different localities." 



FIOEDS ON MICE. 



Of lil'tt'ou stoiiiaclis of those bircls examined by the 

 wiiler, ft)urteen coutnined small rodents, principally 

 mice, and some few insects: the feathers of a sparrow 

 and bones of a small mammal were found in the other 

 stomach. Dr. Fisher, in the summer of 1890, examined 

 200 pellets at the nesting place of a pair of these owls, 

 in one of the towers of the Smithsonian Institution. 

 Washinston, D. C. and found a total of 453 skulls of 

 the followinfj mammals, and one Vesper Sparrow: "225 

 meadow mice; 2, pine mice; 17i), house mice; 20, rats; 

 0, jumpiiiii- mice; 20, shrews; 1. star-nosed mole." 



Such evidence as this certainly proves the import- 

 ance of protecting these owls about our premises. 



