220 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



Photograph by William L. and Irene Finle>' 

 ELF OWLS ARE AS ACCESSIBLE AS GNATS ON PORCUPINES 



Woodpeckers drill holes in giant cacti. Oozing sap hardens. A gourd- 

 like nest is formed. Result: a home to be appropriated by the tiny, 

 night-foraging elf owl (see illustration, opposite page). 



eared owls (page 225) gather in abundance 

 and aid in reducing the numbers of the pests. 

 Burrowing owls feed extensively on beetles 

 and other large insects, and the barn owl in 

 California destroys many Jerusalem crick- 

 ets (see pages 225, 237). 



BARN OWLS DWELL IN THE HEART OF 

 THE nation's CAPITAL 



Since the early days of the Smithsonian 

 Institution in Washington, barn owls have 

 inhabited the northwest tower of the Smith- 

 sonian building, a secure retreat in the midst 

 of the city. From 1,247 of their regurgi- 

 tated pellets, picked up on the tower floor, 

 I have taken the skulls and other bones of 



1,987 field mice, 656 

 house mice, 210 rats, 

 92 sparrows and black- 

 birds, and 4 frogs. 



The usefulness of 

 these birds in the de- 

 struction of injurious 

 rodents is evident, but 

 in spite of this all owls 

 are considered vermin 

 by some and are killed 

 by hunters whenever 

 seen. The sins of the 

 larger species, which 

 eat chickens and game, 

 are visited on all their 

 brethren, to the end 

 that, with the hawks, 

 owls have been in- 

 cluded in bounties, and 

 hundreds of useful 

 kinds are killed under 

 the mistaken belief 

 that they are injurious. 

 The majority of them 

 should be protected at 

 all times. 



Barn Owl 



(Tyto alba pratincola) 



When encountered in 

 a barn, hollow tree, or 

 other retreat, the barn 

 owl exhibits manner- 

 isms so grotesque and 

 utters calls so strange 

 that often there is ques- 

 tion as to whether it is 

 bird or beast. Fre- 

 quently letters come to 

 the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution asking informa- 

 tion regarding it, and to most it is known 

 as the "monkey-faced owl" (see page 225). 

 This owl remains completely secluded by 

 day, coming out at dusk to search for food. 

 In Arizona I have seen them abroad in 

 early twilight, quartering back and forth 

 over the banks of dry washes and mesas, 

 searching for mice and kangaroo rats. 

 .■Kfter nightfall in the city of Washington I 

 have glimpsed the white breast of one of 

 these birds by the light of street lamps, as 

 it flew over from the Smithsonian towers 

 to raid the sparrow and starling roosts on 

 Pennsylvania Avenue. In southern Cali- 

 fornia as many as fifty have been found 

 roosting together in groves of oaks. 



