THE OOLOGIST. 



25 



but since comparatively few are touch- 

 ed, the damage is not great. 



"It is equally probable, moreover, 

 that the bird compensates for this in- 

 jury by the insects it consumes. These 

 birds are certainly the only agents 

 which can successfully cope with cer- 

 tain insect enemies of the forest, and 

 to some extent, of fruit trees, also," 

 speaking of the woodpeckers in gen- 

 eral. "For this reason, if no other, 

 they should be protected in every pos- 

 sible way." For my part I believe 

 that if there is a bird-heaven the 

 Sphyrapicus varius will be admitted. 

 ALEX. W. BLAIN, Jr. 



Detroit, Mich. 



(Strix Practincola.) 



The American Barn Owl in Chautau- 

 qua County. 



More Barn Owls in West. New York. 



Waterport, N. Y. 



In looking over the July Oologist, I 

 find an article by Mr. Posson regard- 

 ing the Barn Owl in Orleans, Niagara, 

 Erie and Yates counties, etc., and 

 stating that he would like to hear of 

 other records (if any) through your 

 paper, so I will add another. 



In September, 1903, I mounted a 

 Barn Owl, shot by Mr. George Acker- 

 son in his orchard, two miles north 

 of Gasport, Niagara county, and in ex- 

 amining the stomach I found five 

 small mice almost whole and eight 

 skulls and other parts of full grown 

 mice, thirteen in all. A very gener- 

 ous meal I thought. 



Since I wrote you about the Barn 

 Owl I had a fine male brought to me 

 which I bought. A fellow saw it sit- 

 ting on a weed and killed it with a 

 stick, about one mile south of Ken- 

 yonville, Oct. 30th, 1905. 



A. T. GARRETT. 



Surely an Owl with 13 mice in her 

 stomach should not stand in need of 

 any monograph by the agricultural de- 

 partment for the protection of the 

 species. — Ed. 



I was very much interested with 

 Mr. C. F. Posson's article on the 

 American Barn Owl and will, as he 

 requests, give the record of one being 

 taken in Chautauqua county, on Sep : 

 tember 15, 1894. A Barn Owl was 

 sent me from the city of Jamestown, 

 where it was shot, 22 miles from May- 

 ville, the county seat, to be mounted. 



I mounted it on September 16, and 

 it is now in my collection, as the par- 

 ty never called for it. It was pro- 

 nounced by the best authority they 

 had in the city to be a cross between 

 the Hawk and Owl, and was not iden- 

 tified until it reached me. The bird 

 was in fine plumage and made a nice 

 and rare specimen for Chautauqua 

 county. Measurements as follows: 



Length, 15 in., wing 13 in., extent 

 41-50; tail, 5-50; male bird. 



ALMON E. KIBBE. 



Mayville, X. Y. 



To the Ornithologists of Illinois. 



Greeting: — 



This great state of Illinois has no 

 Ornithologist's Club, therefore, why 

 not organize such a club, to be com- 

 posed of bird students and those in- 

 terested? 



The Ornithologists of Illinois are 

 few in numbers but nevertheless, they 

 are enthusiastic workers and their co- 

 operation would be a great benefit, 

 both to man and the birds. 



No other state in the Union is bet- 

 ter adapted to the study of birds 

 than Illinois. By organizing an Orni- 

 thologists' Club within its borders 

 those interested would meet and be- 

 come better acquainted with of us 

 who know each other by the hand 

 writing only, would meet and receive 



