WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



I knew an instance where the owls having been nearly- 

 destroyed by the numerous pole-traps placed about the 

 fields for the destruction of them and the hawks, the rats 

 and mice increased to such an extent on the disappearance 

 of these their worst enemies, and committed such havoc 

 among the nursery-gardens, farm-buildings, &c., that the 

 proprietor was obliged to have all the pole-traps taken 

 down, and the owls having been allowed to increase again, 

 the rats and mice as quicklydiminished in number.* When 

 the long-eared owls have young, they are not particular as 

 to what they prey upon, and I have found the remains of 

 many different kinds of game about their nests. 



The wings of the owl are peculiarly adapted for seizing 

 their sharp-eared prey with silence: were it otherwise, 

 from not having the rapidity of the hawk and other birds 

 of prey, the owl would have little chance of catching the 

 active little mouse. As it is, he comes silently and surely 

 near the ground, and dropping down on the unfortunate 

 mouse, surrounds it with his wings, and grasping it in his 

 sharp and powerful claws, soon puts an end to the little 

 animal. The wings are fringed with a downy texture, 

 which makes his flight quite inaudible on the calmest night. 

 The numbers ofmice destroyed by a breeding pair of owls 

 must be enormous, and the service they perform by so do- 

 ing very great to the farmer, the planter, and the gardener. 

 Though neither cats nor owls ever eat the little shrew- 

 mouse, they always strike and kill it when opportunity 

 offers, leaving the animal on the spot. What there is so ob- 

 noxious to all animals of prey in this little creature it is im- 



* The use of the pole-trap is now illegal. — Ed. 



lOO 



