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ent century the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestershire and some 

 parts of Scotland have been similarly infested. In all these 

 cases owls are mentioned as thronging to the spot and ren- 

 dering the greatest service in extirpating the pests. The like 

 has also been observed in Scandinavia during the wonderful 

 irruptions of lemmings and other small rodents to which sume 

 of the districts are liable, and it would appear that the Short- 

 eared Owl is the species which plays a principal part in get- 

 ting I'id of the destructive horde." (From Fisher's Bull. 

 No. 3.) 



The information contained on the preceding pages 

 concerning tlie food habits of the Short-eared Owl cer 

 tainly cannot fail to show that this species is highly 

 serviceable and justly merits the good will of the 

 farmer and orcliai'dist. 



