MASON AND LBFROY. 191 



less extent of birds, reptiles, bats, worms, slugs and snails. The 

 stronger forms even capture young fawns, rabbits, hares, large 

 grouse and so forth. While the snowy (Nyctea) Screech (Strix}, 

 and Wood (Syrnium) Owls occasionally take fish, which with 

 crabs constitute the chief diet of Ketupa. E. B. C. N. H., 401. 



They are as a rule nocturnal, and are almost always regarded 

 as being beneficial, since they act as a very good check on various 

 small rodents. 



Owls are nocturnal or crepuscular and carnivorous and live for 

 the most part on mammals, on other birds, or on reptiles, few sub- 

 sist on fish, and many of the smaller kinds on insects. The 

 indigestible portions of the food bones, hair, scales, &c., are dis- 

 gorged as pellets. It is not an uncommon thing to find masses of 

 small bones in a hollow tree, thus accumulated. F. I. Ill, 264. 



Owls are really most valuable birds, as they feed on and keep 

 down rodent mammals, and large injurious insects. Steb. M. F. Z. 



1152. Strix flammea. Barn Owl. Rats, mice, and shrews. 

 Jerd. B. I. I., 118. Almost entirely on rats and mice. F. I., Ill, 

 266. Pellets only of rats and mice. B. N. H. S. J. XII, 569. It 

 feeds almost exclusively on rats, mice, shrews, and other enemies 

 of the farmer, and as an exceptional case it will take a young bird, 

 which is usually a sparrow. It will often enter a bungalow after 

 rats and moths, &c. Dewar, B. P., 143. Cf. B. of A. and F. 

 Leaflet No. 51. The White or Barn Owl. 



The food consists chiefly of small rodents, though birds, bats 

 insects and even small fish are eaten. When this bird frequents 

 dove cotes, it destroys the rats which prey upon the eggs and the 

 young of pigeons, and is itself pratically harmless. E. B. C. N. 

 H., 411. 



Stomach examined. 



12-9-08. Remains of two mice. 



In England I have seen this bird take leverets, and young rab- 

 bits, and it is occasionally reported as having taken game birds 5 

 but it is generally acknowledged now, 'and rightly so, to be 

 beneficial. 



