NOOTUENAIi BIRDS OF PREY. 



229 



barn owls frequent it, and are encouraged all around it. The barr 

 owl merely resorts to it for repose and concealment. If it wer«. 

 really an enemy to the dovecote, we should see the pigeons it 

 commotion as soon as it begins its evening flight, but the pigeons 

 heed it not, whereas if the sparrow-hawk or hobby should make 

 its appearance, the whole community would be up at once. ... I 

 am amply repaid for the pains I have taken to protect and encou- 

 rage the barn owl ; it pays me an hundred fold by the enormous 

 quantity of mice which it destroys throughout the year." 



It also devours great numbers of beetles and other insects. 

 It is possible that it may, also, destroy young birds, but not pro- 

 bable, as feathers and birds' bones are never found among the 

 rejectamenta. It will, however, when domesticated, devour a dead 

 sparrow or linnet when presented to it. 



Few people know what a little bird this owl really is. The 



Egyptian Owl. 



20 



