402 RELATIONS OF BIRDS TO AGRICULTURE 



A hole in a tree is utilized as a nest. The eggs are whitish or 

 creamy, three to seven in number. 



Great Horned Owl. This striking bird, reaching the northern 

 states sometimes as early as February, is quite common in wooded 

 sections. Rabbits, gophers, muskrats, field mice, and other night- 

 prowling animals represent a large share of the diet of this bird. 

 Poultry, too, are attacked if farmers allow their turkeys and 

 chickens to roost in tops of trees, on sheds, or other exposed places. 

 Even skunks (Fig. 392) are highly prized by them for food. In 

 fact, when caught, they are frequently scented with skunk odor. 

 With the exception of the skunk, which is ordinarily a useful 



citizen, the other mammals 

 mentioned must be regarded 

 as injurious most of them de- 

 cidedly so. Hence this owl is, 

 to a large degree, a benefactor. 

 The Virginia Quail or Bob 

 White is holding its own fairly 

 well in many northern states 

 in spite of severe winters, and 

 is pushing its way farther 

 north when conditions are 

 favorable. This bird is such 

 a good friend of the agricul- 

 turist that it deserves protec- 

 tion. Its fine qualities as a 

 ta,ble bird make it an object 



I? IG. 394. Mourning dove. (After Fuertes.) , J 



of pursuit on the part of 



hunters. Potato bugs and even chinch bugs have been found in its 

 crop, and grasshoppers, as well as many other varieties of injurious 

 insects, compose a large proportion of its bill of fare (Fig. 393). 

 The Mourning Dove. This dove is common in middle and 

 northern states. It was at one time included in our list of game 

 birds, with a regular open season. It is now appreciated as a 

 somewhat useful or at least a harmless bird (Fig. 394). U. S. 

 Farmers' Bulletin 513 reports the finding in one stomach of 7500 

 seeds of yellow wood sorrel. In another Were found 6400 seeds 

 of foxtail. In a third there were 2600 seeds of slender paspalum, 

 4820 seeds of orange hawkweed, 950 of hairy vervain, 120 of 

 Carolina cranesbill, 56 of yellow wood sorrel, 620 of panic grass, 

 and 40 miscellaneous weed seeds. 



