Oivls. 23 



will destroy all the small birds, though mice are its 

 favourite food. It is difficult to manage during the 

 breeding season ; at other times, if birds or mice are 

 put into its cage in the evening, it will eat them in the 

 night A writer in " Science Gossip " observes that 

 Owls and some species of Hawks always bring their 

 wings forward and spread their tails when seizing their 

 food, and that they are supposed to do this in order 

 to conceal it, because they do not like to be watched 

 while eating. He gives another reason for this, that 

 if the bird were to strike its quarry while on the ground 

 as it does in the air, it would be disabled or killed by 

 the shock which it would receive ; but that, by swoop- 

 ing down upon its prey, and bringing its wings and 

 tail downwards and forwards with a sharp stroke, it 

 alights upon the ends of its strong elastic quills, and 

 deadens the shock to its own body, while at the same 

 time it encloses a space of four or five feet in circum- 

 ference, out of which the mouse cannot escape : the 

 roots of the quills being plentifully supplied with 

 nerves, the Owl feels at once any attempt of his 

 captive to get through, and seizes it with his claws. 

 The remains of this instinct, he thinks, causes these 

 birds to " hide their food " in captivity. 



The LITTLE OWL (Strix passerina) is strictly 

 nocturnal in its habits, and becomes very lively 

 towards evening. In its wild state it feeds on mice, 

 bats, small birds, and insects. In a cage it may be 



