270 THE BARN OWL, 



THE BARN OWL, AND THE BENEFITS 

 IT CONFERS ON MAN.* 



THIS pretty aerial wanderer of the night often comes into my room ; 

 and after flitting to and fro, on wing so soft and silent that he is 

 scarcely heard, he takes his departure from the same window at 

 which he had entered. I own I have a great liking for this bird ; 

 and I have offered it hospitality and protection on account of its 

 persecutions, and for its many services to me, I say services, as 

 you will see in the sequel. I wish that any little thing I could write 

 or say might cause it to stand better with the world at large than it 

 has hitherto done : but I have slender hopes on this score ; because 



* Mr Alfred Ellis of Belgrave has done good service to farmers and to owls by 

 reprinting this essay, and circulating it in the form of a pamphlet. This gentle- 

 man was a correspondent and friend of Waterton, and has followed the example 

 of Walton in his own park. In some " Notes about Birds," printed in 1868, Mr 

 Ellis gives an account of the success which has attended his protection of our 

 native fauna. His place is situated on the edge of Charnwood Forest, a tract 

 of unenclosed moorland, and near it are the well-wooded parks of Bradgate and 

 Beaumanor. Thus, as far as situation is concerned, a fine show of wild birds 

 might be expected. The gamekeeper is not allowed to discharge a gun during 

 the breeding-season, and Mr Ellis has persuaded his neighbours to show some 

 degree of mercy towards the wild birds. In the little book referred to above, he 

 states the result : "At the Brand, a very small property in the heart of Leicester- 

 shire, there could be seen in the summer of 1864, within one hundred yards of 

 each other, a pair of kestrels rearing their young in a hollow tree, while above 

 them was a nest of starlings ; hard by, the green woodpecker was performing the 

 same duty ; and in a rude tower, prepared to attract them, a pair of barn owls 

 bi ought up their family ; while the stock-dove chose an adjoining hole in the 

 same building, and into which the owls had free access. The goat-sucker reared 

 her young in the same locality. These facts will show what may be accomplished, 

 for at this place there is plenty of game, which is shot in the usual way." 



Within the limits of the Brand there are some old quarries now filled with 

 water and overhung by crags of dark rock. One December afternoon when 

 visiting Mr Ellis, I saw a kingfisher fly three times across this miniature lake. 

 The brilliant orange and blue of the bird formed a lovely contrast with the dull 

 slate rocks, the sombre colours of the winter sky and their reflection in the water, 

 and showed how greatly the beauties of a landscape may be enhanced by the 

 presence of living things. [ED.] 



