BIRDS OF THE NIGHT 197 



day after day, and never, or hardly ever, sitting 

 in a hollow tree, such as the Barn Owl prefers. 

 The Brown Owl has a decided weakness for an 

 evergreen when choosing a roosting tree, often 

 selecting a spruce or yew, possibly because such 

 trees are more shady, or maybe because the 

 thick greenery ensures privacy. At any rate 

 when an owl has found a good perch it is most 

 faithful to it. By my home there is a pine in 

 which an owl always roosts, but it is a tall tree, 

 and the bird takes a great deal of seeing ; indeed, 

 one would never find it if one did not know where 

 to look. 



It is under such roosting places that you find 

 evidence of the owl's midnight doings, for, as 

 is the case with other birds of prey, owls throw 

 up the undigested and undigestible portions of 

 their food in the form of an oval pellet or casting. 

 The fur, bones, etc., of the creatures they have 

 eaten are thus rejected, generally about twelve 

 hours after the last meal, and falling to the ground 

 afford valuable evidence as to what these birds 

 really live on. The bones and fur of mice pre- 

 dominate, especially those of the short-tailed 

 meadow vole ; sometimes one will find a few 

 feathers, showing a little bird has been taken, 

 and there will often be a surprising quantity 

 of beetle wing-cases, the hard elytra being 

 rejected undamaged, showing that the Brown 

 Owl is not above eating insects. It is, indeed, 

 very fond of them, and will also consume earth- 

 worms, picking them up off the turf when they 



