86 THE BARN OWL 



occupied a ruined gateway on the estate. Every 

 pellet contained skeletons of from four to seven 

 mice. Owls, it may be necessary to explain, 

 swallow their food without separating flesh from 

 bone, skin and hair, and afterwards disgorge the 

 indigestible portions rolled up into little balls. 

 In sixteen months the pair of owls above-mentioned 

 had accumulated a deposit of more than a bushel 

 of these pellets, each a funeral urn of from four to 

 seven mice I In the old Portuguese fort of Bassein 

 in Western India I noticed that the earth at the foot 

 of a ruined tower was plentifully mixed with small 

 skulls, jaws and other bones. Taking home a hand- 

 ful and examining them, I found that they were 

 the remains of rats, mice and muskrats. 



The owl kills small birds, large insects, frogs and 

 even fishes, but these are extras : its profession 

 is rat-catching and mousing, and only those who 

 have a very intimate personal acquaintance with 

 it know how peculiarly its equipment and methods 

 are adapted to this work. The falcon gives open 

 chase to the wild duck, keeping above it if possible 

 until near enough for a last spurt ; then it comes 

 down at a speed which is terrific, and, striking the 

 duck from above, dashes it to the ground. The 

 sparrow hawk plunges unexpectedly into a group of 

 little birds and nips up one with a long outstretched 

 foot before they have time to get clear of each 

 other. The harrier skims over field, copse and 

 meadow, suddenly rounding corners and topping 



