BIEDS, 325 



Owls differ much in dimensions, some even approaching in 

 size to the Eagles. Among these the Snowy Owl stands 

 conspicuous ; it is a native of high northern latitudes, but has 

 been taken on many occasions in these countries. The species 

 most common in England and Ireland is the White or Barn 

 Owl (Slrix Jlamviea). They frequent not barns only, but 

 unoccupied buildings of any kind. The " ivy-mantled tower " 

 is a congenial abode. They leave their retreat about an hour 

 before sunset, to hunt for mice, which form the principal food 

 of themselves and their young ; and in doing so they " beat 

 the fields over like a settinar dos:-"* The numbers of mice 

 destroyed by a breeding pair of Owls must be enormous, and 

 the service they thus perform very great, to the farmer, the 

 planter, and the gardener. " I knew an instance," continues 

 Mr. St. John, f " where, the Owls having been nearly de- 

 stroyed by the numerous pole-traps placed about the fields for 

 the destruction of them and the hawks, the rats and mice 

 increased to such an extent on the disappearance of these 

 their worst enemies, and committed such havoc among the 

 nursery-gardens, farm-buildings, &c., that the proprietor was 

 obliged to have all the pole-traps taken down ; and the Owls 

 being allowed to increase again, the rats and mice as quickly 

 diminished in number." 



Mr. Thompson mentions that a pair of White Owls had 

 then- nest and young in a loft appropriated to Pigeons in the 

 town of Belfast. On the shelf beside the young Owls, the 

 number of dead mice and rats observed remaining after the 

 night's repast, varied from six to fifteen. No attempt was 

 ever made by the Owls to molest either the Pigeons or their 

 young ; and there is strong reason to believe that it is only 

 in the dearth of other prey that this Owl attacks any of the 

 feathered tribe. 



In this particular it differs from the Eagle Owl, a species 

 which inhabits the north of Europe, and has occasionally been 

 " taken in these countries. A Swedish gentleman, who lived 

 near a high mountain on which a pair of these birds had built 

 their nest, was witness of the following instance of their 

 affectionate soUcitude for their young: — One of the young 

 birds, which had quitted the nest, was taken by his servants, 

 and shut up in a hen-coop. " On the following morning a 



• Natural History of Sclbome. 

 t "Wild Sports of 'the Highlands. 



