198 BIRDS IN THEIR RELATIONS TO MAN. 



fowls roost in trees it probably does considerable damage ; 

 but of the one hundred and nine stomachs examined by Dr. 

 Fisher only three contained domestic fowls, while in one was 

 a pigeon, in another a ruffed grouse, and thirteen contained 

 smaller birds, including screech-owls, sparrows, and a red- 

 bellied woodpecker. Mice were found in forty-six stomachs ; 

 rats, red squirrels, and chipmunks in eighteen ; insects and 

 spiders in sixteen; crawfish in nine; frogs in four; fish in 

 two ; a lizard in one ; while twenty of the stomachs were 

 empty. Audubon records the fact that these owls are very 

 fond of a brown w r ood-frog found in Louisiana. " Dr. C. Hart 

 Merriam took the remains of at least a dozen red-backed 

 mice from a single specimen killed near Moose- River in 

 northern New York." 



" In summing up the facts relating to the food habits of this 

 owl," writes Dr. Fisher, "it appears that, while the general 

 statements of certain authors, especially the earlier ones, 

 charge the bird with the destruction of poultry, game, and 

 small birds, such destructive habits are comparatively un- 

 common. That it does occasionally make inroads upon the 

 poultry-yard and does more, or less damage among game- 

 birds is true ; but the systematic collection and examination 

 of a large number of stomachs show the exceptional char- 

 acter of such acts and reveal the fact that a large part of its 

 food consists of mammals. And it is to be noted that among 

 the list are some of the most destructive rodents that the 

 farmer has to contend with. If a fair balance be struck, 

 therefore, it must be considered that on the whole this owl is 

 beneficial, and hence should occupy a place on the list of 

 birds to be protected." 



The barred owl makes its nest in hollow trees or among 

 the upper branches. It often uses the deserted nest of a 

 crow or hawk for the purpose, remodelling it slightly to suit 

 the new occupant. The complement of whitish eggs is usually 

 two or three, but four or five are sometimes found. These 



