78 Forest Birds. 



armed with strong curved claws, and the bird having 

 an exceedingly powerful grasp, the curved claws are 

 an additional help to it in securing its prey. 



The plumage is abundant, and so very soft that 

 the bird flies in perfect silence, and steals unawares 

 on its prey. Voles, rats, mice, shrews, moles, 

 squirrels, small birds, and even insects are pounced 

 upon by this prowler of the night. The prey is 

 seized with the feet, and borne, either in the beak 

 or claws, to a place of safety. The owl then devours 

 it entire bones, fur or feathers and by a beautiful 

 economy of nature, when the digestible portion is 

 absorbed, the bird rejects the remainder in the form 

 of a pellet, which is vomited up. These pellets, 

 grey in colour, are about the shape and size of an 

 emperor moth's cocoon (Fig. 17), and when macerated 

 in water, they are often found to contain three or 

 more entire skeletons of mice, together with the fur. 

 They may be picked up in open ground, or under a 

 tree frequented by owls. 



This beautiful and most useful bird is still much 

 persecuted by the gamekeeper and farmer, notwith- 

 standing all that has been said in its favour. 

 Occasionally the Tawny Owl may take a young 

 rabbit. Why should we grudge him this, when we 

 consider the vast numbers of mice and rats that he 

 consumes ? Gamekeepers have said that they have 



