

THE BARN OWL 



STRIX FLAMMEA 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : " White Owl." 

 " Willy," " Billy Owl " (Essex). 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A widely distributed 

 resident, becoming scarcer and more local in the wilder 

 districts. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : The Barn Owl is by no means a rare bird in the 

 more rural parts of the Metropolitan radius. I have 

 found it, so far as my experience goes, most common in 

 Surrey and Middlesex, but other observers testify to its 

 by no means unusual occurrence in Essex and Kent. I 

 have never heard its cry in any of the inner London 

 parks, nor do I know of any haunt of this Owl within the 

 five-mile radius. Beyond that limit, however, there are 

 many places where the note of the Barn Owl is a fairly 

 familiar night-sound, and as we pass mile after mile out- 

 wards into the remoter suburbs and the opening country- 

 side the species becomes more frequent. It still haunts 

 Harlesden, and occasionally the open country near to 

 Kensal Rise. 



If left unmolested there can be little doubt that the 

 Barn Owl would eventually become commoner than it 

 is now in the immediate vicinity of London. It readily 

 makes any old barn, hollow tree, or church-tower into a 

 resort, whence it sallies forth at nightfall in quest of food. 

 It is seldom seen abroad before the twilight hour, and 

 from then until dawn it is actively engaged in searching 

 for food, which largely consists of mice. It will regularly 

 catch thirty or forty of these troublesome vermin in a 

 single night, so that its usefulness to man is great. It is, 

 indeed, one of the farmer's best friends, and should receive 

 far more encouragement and protection than it usually 



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