246 OWLS 



but that they have lost numbers of young pheasants from 

 the depredations of owls of all these persons, I say, not 

 one has been able to speak from personal observation. 

 Every one cites his gamekeeper's testimony. Obviously, 

 then, this is mere hearsay evidence, such as would not be 

 permitted in any court of justice. Let me recite once 

 more the facts which seem to make it impossible for owls 

 to prey regularly on young game birds in this country. 



Of the nine or ten species of owl found in the British 

 Isles, three only are able to hunt by day. Of these the 

 two largest the eagle owl and the snowy owl no doubt 

 are formidable birds of prey, which, were they numerous, 

 it would certainly be justifiable to destroy in the interest 

 of more valuable animals ; but both these noble creatures 

 are among our very rarest visitors, and only stoop to our 

 shores under stress of weather. Therefore, these do not 

 come under consideration in the present question. The 

 third British day-hunting species is the short-eared owl 

 (Asio accipitrinus). Undoubtedly, this bird would work 

 mischief among young pheasants and partridges but for 

 the circumstance that it is a winter visitor to this country. 

 It is one of our most regular seasonal migrants, arriving 

 and departing simultaneously with the northern-bred 

 woodcocks, hence popularly known as the woodcock owl. 

 Thus it never sees our pheasants except as full-fledged 

 rocketers, each more than twice the weight of an adult 

 short-eared owl. It is true that a few pairs of these owls 

 do remain to breed in Orkney, Shetland, and on the 

 Scottish and Northumbrian moors; but the main body 

 departs each spring, except when, at intervals of many 

 years, a certain cogent and peculiar circumstance induces 

 them to remain. That circumstance is the outbreak of a 



