AVES 



253 



are beneficial to the farmer. The screech owl and the 

 long-eared owl, so called on account of the tuft of feathers 

 near each ear, are widely distributed over the United 



FIG. 290. Cooper's hawk or chicken hawk eighteen inches long. Photograph of 

 a mount by Neal of Easton. 



States. Pellets from four of the latter species showed that 

 in fifty-nine days they had consumed three hundred and 

 forty-six mice, which if left unmolested would have con- 

 sumed many dollars' worth of the farmers' produce. 

 The order Gallince, including the much prized game birds, 



