BIRDS THAT PREY AND SOME THAT DO NOT 467 



family of owls has been around here for a dozen 

 or more of years. 



OWLS SWALLOW THEIR FOOD WHOLE, 

 and afterwards spit out a pellet composed of the 

 hair, feathers and bones of their victims. Under- 

 neath this owl roost, the ground was covered with 



pellets. After a hard 

 shower of rain the pel- 

 lets were all dissolved 

 v and washed together so 

 that they made a 

 blanket of felt from 

 one-quarter of an inch 

 to two inches thick. It 

 was in a rude, rectangu- 

 lar form, three feet 

 long, by over two and 

 one-half feet wide; that 

 means, there were six or 

 more square feet of felt 

 matting composed of 

 mouse hair interspersed with the skulls and bones 

 of the victims of these owls. I examined it very 

 carefully and found it to be principally composed 

 of the remains of mice, with a sprinkling of a few 

 bones and skulls of the English sparrow. This 

 means that the long-eared owl is a useful bird and 

 should be cultivated and encouraged to live about 

 one's place. 



THE FIRST OWL I EVER SAW 

 was a small screech owl and it was sitting 



