36 BIRDS OF PREY 



Owls are exceedingly interesting birds, and in them there 

 is also much to admire. They take life seriously; they have 

 but few nerves, and seldom use them. Rarely do they become 

 really tame or affectionate, but easily become very indignant 

 at real or fancied affronts. Like many people of few words 

 and solemn manner, they are not nearly so wise as they look. 

 They are easily caught in steel traps, or shot; and they are 

 much given to nesting in situations that are wide open to at- 

 tack. 



Omitting the subspecies — which are only geographic races 

 — there are eighteen species of owls in North America, north 

 of Mexico. They vary in size from the tiny elf owl, of Ari- 

 zona, only six inches in total length, to the great gray owl, of 

 the arctic regions, thirty inches long. 



With the exception of the great horned owl, and about 

 three other species, the owls of our country are by no means 

 so destructive to poultry and wild bird life as is generally sup- 

 posed. The great majority of the species feed upon wild 

 mice, rats, squirrels, shrews, fish, crustaceans and insects; 

 and some of them render great service to man. Nearly all 

 owls are night-flyers, and by reason of their soft, fluffy plu- 

 mage, which renders their flight quite noiseless, they are spe- 

 cially fitted to keep in check the grand army of destructive 

 rodents that roam abroad under cover of darkness. 



Owls do very well in captivity, provided they are properly 

 housed and fed, and have comfortable perches to sit upon. 

 Naturally, they are most active at night, and quiet in the day- 

 time. Be it known, however, that they cannot live long on a 

 steady diet of beefsteak. Every owl must have a liberal al- 



