The Short-Eared Owl 219- 



' British Birds ' it is stated "that when plagues of mice occur Owls throng to 

 the spot, rendering the greatest service in extirpating the pests." Undoubt- 

 edly the Short -eared Owls prey to a very limited extent upon small birds; 

 but the percentage of harm is so small, when compared with the good 

 the Owls do, that it should not be taken into account. Their regular 

 and principal food is noxious mammals, with some beetles, locusts and other 

 insects, and an occasional bird. It is a very well -authenticated fact that in 

 large game-preserves, where Hawks and Owls are shot to the point of 

 extermination, the inevitable result is an abnormal increase in rats and mice, 

 even to the extent of a plague. 



On one occasion the writer kept a Short -eared Owl in captivity for 

 about a month, in order to study its habits. It was confined in a large box 

 with a wire front, at first in the open air and, subsequently, in a light cellar. 

 Every eflfort was made to tame its wildness, by handling it with the greatest 

 gentleness and never approaching it abruptly. No measure of success 

 attended the efifort ; on the contrary, the Owl seemed to grow wilder and 

 more excitable when approached. A visitor was always saluted with a series 

 of violent hisses, accompanied by a ruffling of the feathers over the whole 

 body. The hisses were often followed by a violent snapping of the man- 

 dibles, which was continued for some time, especially if food were not given. 

 If the visit were in the daytime, the exhibitions of fear or temper were much 

 more violent than at night. This may be accounted for from the fact that 

 at night the Owl was dazzled by a bright light being held within a few 

 inches of the cage. If the light were moved from end to end of the cage 

 the eyes of the Owl always followed it, thus showing that the light was a 

 much stronger attraction than the visitor ; however, the light was by no means 

 so absorbing that it prevented the Owl from seizing food when presented, 

 if hungry ; if not hungry, no attention would be paid to anything but the 

 flame. If food were seized it was merely held by the claws until the light 

 was removed. It was also one of the Owl's habits to hold surplus food 

 with one foot when its hunger was satisfied. On a number of occasions a 

 surfeit of house-mice was offered, but the Owl would not eat to exceed 

 more than three mice at one time. 



Once the process of disgorging a pellet was observed. The Owl was about 

 to be fed, when it commenced a series of contortions which seemed to' in- 

 volve the whole body. Three of these movements or contortions took place, 

 then a pellet was thrown from the Owl's mouth. It was nearly two inches 

 long, and about three-quarters of an inch at its greatest diameter. It was 

 covered with a slimy substance which made it very slippery. The pellet 

 dried quickly, when no trace of any greasy substance was found, and it is 

 therefore probable that the lubricating matter must be lodged in the throat 

 and stomach of the Owl and is only used in small quantities on the sur- 

 face of the pellet, not being mixed with the whole mass. 



