KcifPS, The low an Raptores. 



19 



becomes a prey to tliis species, though doubtless scarcety of other food would 

 sometiiues make this the case. 



i^3)-Asio irUsoniaiius. AMERICAN LONG-EARED OWL. 



This is a common species in Iowa, and is also a useful and almost harmless 

 species. Remains of poultry and of birds are sometimes found in the stomachs 

 of these birds, but this is a rare occurance. By the larger part of their food 

 consists of squirrels, chip-munks, gophers, mice and frogs. 



{24)-Asin accipifrinus. SHORT-EARED OWL. 



The Short-eared Owl is also common in this state, being resident, as is also 

 the Long-eared species, throughout the year. It is the owl commonly seen fly- 

 ing low over the open meadows and sloughs. It is undoubtedly a beneficial 

 species, using as the articles of its diet small rodents of various kinds, principally 

 meadow mice and gophers, as also grasshoppers and diilerent kinds of insects. 

 Occasionally a small bird enters into the bill of fare. 



(2rj)—Syrn.ium. nebulosuni. BARRED OWL. 



This is a large species common everywhere in Iowa where large timber 

 exists. Being almost as large as the Gt. Horned Owl it sometimes receives dis- 

 credit which should be given to the latter species. The experiments of Dr. C. 

 Hart Merriam, of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, tend to show that the Barred 

 Owl is far more beneficial than otherwise. Of ninety-five stomachs examined 

 only three contained poultry ; twelve, other birds, none of which were game 

 birds ; forty contained mice ; fifteen, other mammals, among these only a few 

 rabbits and timber-squirrels ; four, frogs ; nine, crawfish ; two, fish ; sixteen 

 were empty. Besides these, snakes, earth-worms, grasshoppers and different 

 species of beetles and flies are eaten. Meadow mice seem to be the staple diet 

 with this species. The writer remembers one nest containing young birds that 

 was almost lined w^tli mice tails, these being the only remains of food of any 

 kind found in or near the nest cavity. 



(^6)—.mjctal(( (icddiea. SAW- WHET OWL. 



The Saw- Whet or Acadia Owl is the smallest member of the family found 

 in Eastern North America, and cannot be said to be common anywhere. It is 

 an innocent bird for the most part, not often making a meal on a small bird of 

 any kind. Its food is made up of mice and other small rodents for the most 

 part. Probably frogs and insects are also eaten. 



{27)— Mega scops asio. SCREECH OWL. 



The Screech Owl is well known in Iowa and is common. It is one of the 

 most profitable and useful of birds and deserves protection on account of the 

 great numbers of mice and other rodents and noxious insects destroyed by it 

 yearly. Crawfish, frogs and caterpillars are also eaten by this species. It sel- 

 dom molests a bird. 



