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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