202 



BIRDS IN THEIR RELATIONS TO MAN. 



Nocturnal mammals are frequent victims. Four out of every 

 five of these owls that are brought in have been scented by a 

 skunk. Two nests that have come under the writers' obser- 

 vation both had the remains of skunks upon them beside the 

 young. Rabbits are caught in large numbers. Musk-rats, 

 rats, mice, and shrews are on the regular bill of fare. Many 

 birds are snatched from their roosts and borne away by this 



HEAD OP GREAT HORNED OWL. 



literally " silent messenger." The ruffed grouse is often taken. 

 Farmers who carelessly allow their turkeys, chickens, or 

 guinea-fowls to roost on fences and trees are frequently made 

 to repent. The writers have known an owl to dispose of two 

 guinea-hens in one night, leaving only a few bones and a lot 

 of feathers on the snow to tell the tale. In his account of 



