THE MOPING OWL 



rabble of little birds, an owl looks a helpless 

 fool indeed, though this is not the proper 

 moment to judge of the bird's possibilities 

 under happier circumstances. Why these 

 small fowl should bully it at all is one of those 

 woodland problems that no one has yet 

 solved. The first, and obvious, explanation 

 is that they know it for their enemy, and it 

 may be indeed that owls commit depredations 

 on the nests of wild birds of which we, who 

 academically regard their food as consisting 

 of rats, bats and mice or, in the case of 

 larger species, of young game and leverets 

 have no inkling. If however such is the case, 

 it is strange that the habit should have been 

 overlooked by those who have paid close 

 attention to this curious and interesting 

 group. Bird-catchers, at any rate, without 

 troubling to inquire into the reason, turn 

 the instinct to profitable account, and in 

 some parts of the country a stuffed owl is 

 an important item of their stock-in-trade. 

 The majority of owls that either reside 

 in or visit these islands are benefactors of 

 the farmer, and should be spared. The larger 

 eagle-owl, and snowy owl eat more expensive 

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