30 BIRD LIFE IN WILD WALES 



only turned the Daws out, but even killed one (pre- 

 sumably one of the pair, as we found the remains in 

 the hollow together with an egg or two belonging to 

 the Owls). This species, too, is very pugnacious at 

 the nest, more especially should it contain young ; 

 and on one occasion one took our cap clean off in 

 " stooping " at us. 



The Barn Owl comes next on the " Death Roll " ; 

 and how senseless it is to slaughter this pretty and 

 useful species, so well known not only to dwellers by 

 the country-side, but even to those who live in towns, 

 as this Owl is very partial to an old belfry, and the 

 noise and crowds of the city are no deterrents. If 

 any one doubt this Owl's utility, let him examine in 

 some chosen haunt the cast-up " pellets," and he will 

 prove at once to his own satisfaction that its staple 

 diet consists of rats and mice, varied now and again 

 by a small bird, generally Sparrows, but we can well 

 spare a few of them. We remember once finding a 

 creeper's skull and the remains of a bat. Many a 

 happy evening have we spent in the company of these 

 Owls, watching them take food to their downy, hissing 

 young for it is only the young that hiss or snore, 

 the old birds making a weird noise resembling the 

 word " skirr." Sometimes this bird is double-brooded, 

 but by no means invariably, we think : we have found 

 Owlets still in the nest as late as September, the usual 

 time for the first clutch of eggs, however, being the 

 middle of April, and the eggs vary in number from 

 three to six (we have once seen the latter number), 

 and we believe eight have been recorded. 



In woods abounding with fir and deciduous trees 



