by a most careful observer, 
resulted in the discovery of the 
remains of 16 bats, 3 rats, 
237 mice, 693 voles, and 1,590 
shrews, together with the skulls 
of 22 small birds; and I have 
myself had an opportunity, 
quite recently, of inspecting a 
large quantity of pellets which 
consisted almost entirely of the 
skulls of sparrows. 
The late Lord Lilford, who 
made some very careful experiments with regard to the 
food of owls, tells us that on one occasion a Barn Owl 
in his own possession swallowed eight mice, one after 
another, and did its best to gulp down a ninth, being only 
prevented from doing so by the limits of its internal 
capacity. Yet three hours later it was hungry again, and 
ate four more mice! The young birds, 
TRE 
too, are fed entirely upon mice, one of (PEA Haig,” oN 
which is brought to them by the parents 
at regular intervals of about fifteen " 
minutes throughout the night. One only K 
has to remember the devastation caused 
by mice, both in the stacks and the open 
field, and the extraordinary rapidity with 
To 
