List of Birds Examined. 63 



Examination of 83 Pellets. 



ARTKJLE OF DIET. Number 



occurred. 



Mole 



Field Vole 



Bank Vole 



Common Shrew Mouse 

 Long-tailed Field Mouse 

 House Mouse 

 Blackbird 

 Thrush 



Starling 

 House Sparrow 

 Dung Beetles, remains 

 Cockchafer, remains 



1 



16 



17 



56 



29 



3 



2 



2 



1 



33 



7 



16 



Conclusion. 



A most valuable bird to the agriculturist, and perfectly harm- 

 less otherwise. Should certainly be protected. 



BROWN OWL. 



Syrnium aluco (Linn.). 



In spite of years of persecution the Brown or Tawny Owl is 

 still fairly plentiful. 



Writing at some length on the habits and food of this bird, 

 Archibald (3) says : " With regard to the accusation that the brown 

 owl habitually destroys game-birds, a small amount of reflection 

 makes the practical impossibility of such a proceeding manifest, 

 for the simple reason that young pheasants and partridges are 

 safely hidden beneath their mother's wing long before the tawny 

 owl considers it fit to stir abroad. Even the most uncompromising 

 preserver could hardly consider its fancy for the young of ground 

 game a very great sin, whilst this taste is in itself an additional 

 claim upon the sympathies of the agricultural world. 



"A very large portion of its food consists of rats and mice, 

 and it ranks with the barn owl and kestrel as one of the 1 farmer's 

 best friends. Water-rats, moles, and young rabbits frequently form 

 part of its diet, and more rarely leverets, squirrels, small birds and 

 fish ; whilst beetles, including the destructive cockchafer, are 

 sometimes devoured by it in great numbers." 



Newstead (92) examined ten specimens, and summarises thei 

 stomach contents as follows: " 1 contained insects of the injurious 



