TEE SAW-WHET AND OTHER OWLS. 223 



the snowy owl and the great horned owl capture mice ; 

 the former hunting them with much skill, if there are 

 stretches of bare ground accessible, during the weeks in 

 midwinter when these birds visit us. The equally rare 

 barred owl, too, cares more for a mouse than for a chicken 

 or pigeon ; and I have long insisted that whatever of 

 valued bird-life, even, these large owls may destroy, really 

 counts for little in comparison to the good they do in de- 

 stroying field-mice. Certainly, owls, as a class, merit our 

 protection, and should be spared the senseless persecution 

 to which they are subjected. The loss of a chicken or 

 quail or grouse signifies little indeed, when we consider 

 the value of all checks to the increase of mice. These 

 creatures multiply so rapidly, and work so much destruc- 

 tion in cultivated fields the year through, that any 

 mouse-eating animal, whether owl or hawk, is a bene- 

 factor to mankind. The persecution to which owls and 

 hawks have been subjected, even in many localities to 

 the verge of extinction, has resulted in losses to the 

 farmer, by the resulting increase in field-mice, quintu- 

 ple the value of all the poultry that might have been 

 destroyed had birds of prey been reasonably abundant. 

 These may appear rash statements, hastily expressed, but, 

 in reality, are my firm convictions the results of careful 

 observation and study of the habits of these birds for 

 fully twenty years. 



No objection, however, can be urged against the saw- 

 whets, on the score of their diet. In winter, a mouse or a 

 snow-bird satisfies them for a week or more ; and during 

 the other seasons, insects, whenever attainable, are their 

 favorite food. Black crickets, brown grasshoppers, and 

 even pea-green katydids, are eaten in large numbers. So, 

 too, the larger moths are eagerly devoured. I am inclined 



to believe that one reason why we see so few large moths, 

 15 



