249 



lalii'ii tliiiint; Ihe winter iikhiIIis. I'cvealcd in cli'vcn in 

 ilividiiiils un\y leniains of p(Hillr.v; iwo otiicrs, poiiidu^. 

 of raliliils, and of tlic Ihi-pc reniaining birds of this 

 .scries it was found that one iiad talcen two mice; an- 

 other showed small amount of hair, apparently that of 

 an opossum. The sixteenth and last l)ird contained a 

 mouse and parts of beetles. 



The invest ig-ations of Dr. Fisher show that of 110 

 stomachs of this bird which contained food materials, 

 that 31 contained poultry or game birds; 8, other birds; 

 13, mice; 05, other mammals (rabbits, squirrels, rats, 

 muskrats, skunk, etc.) From such records it will be 

 seen that this species does a good deal of damage to 

 the poultry and game interests. While it is true that 

 mice and some other destructive mammals are de- 

 voured by this owl. lliere is lillle doubt Hint the dnni 

 age he does is innch grealer than tlie benefit lie confer.'^. 



