228 



has (akoii fciir inici- from the stuiiuu-h uf oiu- uf lliese 

 birds. Wonic few years ago when stull'ed owl-head.s 

 were fashionable ornaments for ladies hats, many of 

 these owls were slain by hunters in the employ of 

 milliners and taxidermists, on the farms of some of 

 my acquaintances, who afterwards informed me they 

 were convinced that the marked increase of field mice 

 ou their premises was due to the destruction of these 

 and other birds of prey, such as hawks (Sparrow, Red- 

 tailed, Red-shouldered and Rough-legged), which were 

 killed by hunters for the bounty at that time allowed 

 by this State. 



The stomach contents of thirty-five Short-eared Owls 

 examined by the writer during the past ten years re- 

 vealed chiefly field mice, a few birds (sparrows) and 

 some insects, beetles and grasshoppers. 



These owls were captured in Pennsylvania during 

 the winter season. Two had remains of sparrows in 

 their stomachs and three contained the insects above 

 mentioned in conjunction with the hair and bones of 

 small rodents; the remaining thirty owls had only mice 

 or shrews in their stomachs. Dr. Fisher states that 

 it is quite excejjtional for this owl to feed upon birds, 

 and further adds that of ninety stomachs examined at 

 the National DepartuK^nt of Agi-icuUure but ten con- 

 tained the remains O'f birds. 



THET DEVOUR LEGIONS OF NOXIOUS RODENTS. 



The following important evidence of the economic value of 

 the Short-eared Owl is fiom the fourth edition of Yarrall's 

 British Birds (Vol. IV, p. 165); "Undoubtedly, field mice, and 

 especially those of the short-tailed group or voles, are their 

 chief objects of prey, and when these animals increase in an 

 extraordinary and unaccountable way, as they sometimes do. 

 sn as to become extremely misehievou.':. owls, particularly of 

 this species, flock to devour them. Thus there are records 

 of a 'sore plague of strange mice' in Kent and Essex in the 

 year 1580 or 1581, and again in the county last mentioned in 

 1647. In 1754 the same thing is said to have occurred at Hil- 

 gay, near Downham Market, in Norfolk, while within the pres- 



