10 



Of the ten species of owls before mentioned, nine of them are among the best 

 of the farmer's friends, watching and working when he is sleeping. In following- 

 out the natural law which governs their lives they greatly help to keep in check 

 that vast army of little animals which, if allowed to increase unrestrained by 

 their natural enemies, would in a few seasons destroy all vegetation on the face 

 of the earth. The chief and most effective check upon the undue increase of this 

 army of rats, mice, etc., are the birds of prey. These birds are endowed with 

 natural faculties specially adapted for the work they do, and they do it well, the 

 only trouble is that we have too few of them. If, however, public opinion can be 

 brought to bear on this important matter before it is too late, and the wanton and 

 useless destruction of our beneficial hawks and owls stopped at once, the balance 

 of nature may be restored, to the great advantage of mankind. 



The following shows the result of Dr. Fisher's investigation of the food habits 

 of the owls as reported to the Department of Agriculture at Washington. 



Great Horned Owl. 127 stomachs examined : 31 contained poultry or game 

 birds; 8, other birds ; 13, mice ; 65, other mammals ; 1, insects, etc. : 1, fish, and 

 17 were empty. 



This shows that althought the birds does some injury by its raids upon game 

 an'l poultry, yet its evil propensities are somewhat counterbalanced by its destruc- 

 tion of mice, rats, rabbits and other small mammals. It is the only one of the 

 owls about whose record for good there can be any doubt. All the others should 

 be protected, while this one should certainly be killed off', if it takes to visiting the 

 barnyard. 



Long-eared Owl. 107 stomachs examined: 1 contained a game bird; 15, 

 other birds; 84 contained mice; 5, other mammals; 1, insects, and 15 were empty. 



Short eared Owl. 101 stomachs examined: 11 contained small birds; 77 

 contained mice ; 7, other mammals; 7, insects, and 14 were empty. My own 

 experience shows a larger proportion of small birds than the above. 



Barred Owl. 109 stomachs examined . 5 contained poultry or game birds ; 

 13, other birds; 46, mice ; 1 8, other mammals ; 10, frogs, lizards, etc. ; 16, insects; 

 etc., and 20 were empty. 



Screech Oivl. 254 stomachs examined : 1 contained the remains of a pigeon 

 38, other birds ; 91, mice ; 11, other small mammals ; 25, frogs, lizards, etc. ; 107 

 insects, etc., and 43 were empty. 



The above examinations of the stomachs of our resident species show most 

 positively that, with the exception of the Great-horned Owl, the whole family are 

 of the greatest value to the farmer. My own experience, both in Manitoba and 

 Ontario, corroborates this, and is perhaps a little more favorable to the owls, for 

 (always excepting the Great-horned Owl) I have never found a trace of a game 

 bird or domestic fowl in any of them. 



CROWS, BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 



In this chapter I will deal with two families of birds, both of which are 

 charged with being amongst the worst of the feathered enemies of the farmer. 

 The mischief they do is plainly visible ; the good not always seen. When the 

 crow visits the corn field in the spring, and is seen digging into the hills, abstract- 

 ing the half-sprouted grain, and when the blackbirds in clouds alight on the 



