38 



BIRDS OF PREY 



nesting over the altar, and urged me to shoot them then and 

 there. My refusal because the birds were very thoroughly 

 "in sanctuary" was with difficulty comprehended. 



N. Y. Zoological Park. 



BARN OWL. 



Many observations on the food habits of this bird have 

 been made by examining the pellets that have been gathered 

 from its roosting-place. In June, 1890, Dr. A. K. Fisher col- 

 lected 200 pellets that had accumulated from two birds that 

 roosted and nested in one of the towers of the Smithsonian 

 building. These contained 454 skulls, of which 225 were of 

 meadow mice, 2 of pine mice, 179 of house mice, 20 were of 



