249 



taken (lurin<ij the winter montlis, revealed in eleven in 

 (lividuals only remains of poultry; two otliers, pm-tions 

 of rabbils, and of the three remaining birds of this 

 series it was found that one had taken two mice; an- 

 other showed small amount of hair, apparently that of 

 an opo'ssuni. The sixteenth and last bird contained a 

 mouse and parts of beetles. 



The investigations of Dr. Fisher show that of 110 

 stomachs of this bird which contained food materials, 

 that 31 contained poultry or game birds; 8, other birds; 

 13, mice; 65, other mammals (rabbits, squirrels, rats, 

 muskrats, skunk, etc.) From such records it will be 

 seen that this species does a good deal of damage to 

 the poultry and game interests. While it is true that 

 mice and some other destructive mammals are de- 

 voured by this owl. there is little doubt tliat tlie dam- 

 age he does is much greater than tlie benefit he confers. 



