552 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



These Owls are more sociable than larger ones, and assemble in 

 flocks in autumn and spring to migrate into warmer climates ; they 

 depart after the Swallows, and get to their destination soon after. 

 They are of great service to the agriculturist in destroying field-mice. 

 "At times when this scourge was prevalent," says Buffon, "small 

 Horned Owls have been known to arrive in numbers, and wage such a 



Fig. 256. The Scops Owl. 



successful warfare against the field-mice, that in a few days the 

 ground was cleared of them." 



Dale, an English author, mentions another example of the utility 

 of the Scops. In 1580 such a large quantity of mice appeared in the 

 plains near South Minster that all the plants were gnawed off by the 

 roots. Soon after, a number of small Horned Owls came in flocks, 

 and destroyed the mice. 



When pressed by hunger, the Scops is not above eating fish. It 

 may then- be seen hovering over ponds and rivers, and seizing them 



