No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 279 



among the former, and quail, ducks, partridges, and domestic 

 fowls among the latter, are the chief sufferers. Large hawks, 

 crows, and other owls also are often killed and eaten. Dr. 

 Merriam states: "It feeds on the larger game (hares, grouse, 

 and the like), not forgetting the poultry yard, and seems par- 

 ticularly fond of turkeys, of which it seldom touches more than 

 the head, if there are a plenty about. Indeed, I have known one 

 to kill and decapitate three turkeys and several hens in a single 

 night, leaving the bodies uninjured and fit for the table." (Mer- 

 riam, " Birds of Connecticut," p. 67.) Dr. Fisher calls this Owl 

 the most destructive to poultry of all our birds of prey, with the 

 possible exception of the Goshawk and Cooper's Hawk, and 

 quotes Dr. P. R. Hoy as writing, " The specimen in the collection 

 of the Academy was known to carry off from one farm, in the 

 space of a month, not less than twenty-seven individuals of 

 various kinds of poultry before it was shot." Of the 127 stom- 

 achs reported by him, 31 contained poultry or game birds; 8, 

 other birds; 13, mice; 65, other mammals; I, a scorpion; i, fish; 

 10, insects ; and 17 were empty. Of 16 examined by Dr. Warren, 

 ii contained poultry; 2, rabbits; 2, mice; I, a mammal; and I, 

 insects. Of 3 stomachs examined by the author, i was empty ; 

 i contained a mass of bones and feathers, including those of a 

 Robin and Crow; and i, many small birds. In a nest containing 

 three young just hatched, visited by him on March 9, 1904, was 

 a dead Screech Owl and three mice. The bodies of 1 13 rats, 

 chiefly killed within the last ten days, have been found under a 

 nest of this owl containing young. Little claim has this bird to 

 our protection, but it is rare through most of the state. 



Our other five Owls are all useful, some of them almost ex- 

 clusively so, and should be afforded full protection. 



The Barred Owl (Strix varia varia) is next in size to the 

 Great Horned Owl, and much more common, especially near the 

 coast. While its food is largely the same as that of the last 

 species, its incursions into the poultry yard are less frequent, its 

 pursuit of game less eager, and its relish for mice and other 

 injurious mammals far greater. A taste for small owls frequently 

 indulged in by this species must be counted against it, as these 

 owls are altogether useful. Dr. Fisher reports finding the remains 

 of small owls in seven stomachs of these birds, and quotes two 



