THE PLAGUE OF FIELD VOLES IN SCOTLAND. 131 



not only arrived in unusual numbers, but have remained and 

 bred freely all over the district affected, laying from eight to 

 thirteen eggs (though Prof. Newton, in his edition of Yarrell's 

 'British Birds,' mentions seven as an unusual number), and 

 rearing more than one brood. The shepherd on Crooked-stone, 

 near Crauford, counted fourteen nests on his ground. The 

 small wood behind the farm-steading of Howpasley presented a 

 remarkable appearance, the ground being densely covered with 

 the "pellets" or "castings" of owls, composed of the fur and 

 bones of voles. Living specimens of both old and young Short- 

 eared Owls were produced for the inspection of the Committee 

 at Howpasley. 



The Short-eared Owl differs from most other Owls in that he 

 hunts in daylight, and his operations can be observed ; but there 

 is no doubt that the nocturnal species are equally useful to the 

 farmer in destroying small rodents, and it would be difficult to 

 condemn too severely the foolish and cruel action of those who 

 allow or encourage the destruction of this useful and beautiful 

 family of birds. It is with much satisfaction that the Committee 

 record that many landowners and game preservers seem to have 

 become convinced in late years that Owls of all sorts are not only 

 harmless to game but most beneficial to agriculturists, and have 

 issued orders for the preservation of these birds. 



Next, and hardly second in merit, as a check upon voles and 

 mice, comes the Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, and it is to be deplored 

 that popular ignorance as to its food and habits is even greater 

 than that which prevails in regard to owls. This bird, although 

 possessing the long wings and dark eyes characteristic of a true 

 falcon, is known to gamekeepers as a hawk — noscitur a sociis ; its 

 death-warrant is a standing order in most preserves, though here 

 again there has been some improvement, and the destruction 

 of the Kestrel is forbidden on some estates. The food of this 

 bird is known to consist almost exclusively of mice, grasshoppers, 

 coleopterous insects, and their larvse. 



It is true that one witness, a tenant of shootings, stated his 

 belief that the Kestrel is a " deadly enemy of game," that one of 

 this species took seventy young pheasants from the coops, and 

 was shot one evening in the act of carrying off a young pheasant. 

 But he was not speaking from observation, but from the report 

 of his keeper, and there is little doubt that Kestrels are often 



