no ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



north, either in the Old or New Worlds; about 40 N. lat. and 

 40 S. lat. being the limit of the Barn-Owl on the American 

 continents. In many places it is a local bird, and seems to 

 extend its range with civilisation, following in the footsteps 

 of man, in the vicinity of whose homesteads are abundance 

 of mice. 



In Europe the Barn-Owl nests no farther north than the 

 south of Sweden and the Baltic Provinces. It extends to 

 Central Russia and is then apparently absent throughout the j 

 whole of Siberia and Northern Asia, as well as China. It is 

 likewise unknown in Greece and the countries of South- 

 eastern Europe, but is found in Northern Africa and Pales- 

 tine, and throughout the whole of Africa. It likewise extends 

 in slightly modified forms over the entire Indian and Austra- 

 lian Regions, being also found in the islands of Oceania. 



Habits. The Barn-Owl is a nocturnal species, and never 

 ventures out in the daylight of it own accord. In the twilight, 

 however, it issues forth, and in Avington Park in Hampshire, 

 where the late Sir Edward Shelley protected them, I have 

 seen two and three of these pretty birds flying about in the 

 early evening, over the bracken, and playing with each other in 

 the air. Their movements were full of grace and activity, as 

 they sailed over the ferns and gambolled with each other in ; 

 the most playful manner. The number of mice which a Barn- 

 Owl catches in a single night is truly astonishing. Water- 

 ton says that the birds will bring a mouse to their nest every 

 twelve or fifteen minutes, and a nest in Avington Park was i 

 found by us to have over forty freshly-killed field-mice, which 

 must have been caught during the preceding night. Where I 

 encouraged the, present species will take advantage of any tub 

 or shelter put up for its accommodation, and will nest freely. 



The food of the Barn-Owl consists principally of mice, but I 



it will also catch rats and bats, as well as voles and shrews, ; 



and small birds, while it has also been known to take fish. ' 



It is a great friend to the farmer and gardener, and does no } 



harm to game, so that it ought to receive protection from every ' 

 landed proprietor and game-preserver ; instead of which it 

 is to be feared that ignorant prejudice against the Owls still 



contrives the slaughter of a number of these useful birds, : 



