ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 137 



I have also heard proceed from the parent, but of this I am not 

 sure. By remaining perfectly still it becomes distinctly audible, 

 but the Owls are very alert in detecting the sound of footsteps 

 under their tree. It is difficult to understand what purpose this 

 wheezing noise can serve, and unfortunately it often leads to their 

 detection. I have encouraged and protected Owls in every way 

 for many years, but never had nests in November before, and do 

 not for a moment believe that either of them contained a first brood. 

 One of my Owl-tubs which blew down some weeks ago contained 

 what I can only describe as a felt carpet of mouse remains, the 

 stamped-down pellets and rejectamenta of two years; but mingled 

 with this mass was the platform of a Stock-Dove's nest. A Barn- 

 Owl's home is at all times distinctly odoriferous, and compares 

 unfavourably therefore with that of a Tawny Owl, which latter 

 bird, I am assured by Mr. Meade Waldo, never leaves castings 

 in its hole. It was from the above-mentioned tub that Mr. Bird 

 and I on one occasion counted the skulls of thirty-eight Sparrows, 

 one Rat, one Shrew, one Long-tailed Field-Mouse, and two 

 Short-tailed ditto, which my man had thrown out ; but in general 

 my investigations have shown a much larger proportion of Mice 

 than that. A pellet generally contains two Mice, sometimes the 

 bones of four, and it does not take very long for thirty or forty 

 pellets to accumulate in a hole, and probably four times as many 

 are ejected elsewhere. Many of the old Norfolk barns have 

 " Owl-holes " — round holes at the top under the eaves — but now 

 that the plan is to stack everything out of doors, and sell the 

 grain when it is threshed, the Owls' services are not so much 

 appreciated. There is still a prevalent idea that Owls and Cats 

 will kill but not eat Shrew- Mice, which is quite erroneous so far 

 as the Barn-Owl is concerned, for Shrew-skulls are often to be 

 found in their castings; but I have never found remains of 

 a Bat. 



Field-Rats have been more abundant during the autumn of 

 1900 than for many years, and no wonder they increase when the 

 gamekeepers systematically destroy nature's police. Persons may 

 do great harm who spread poison in stacks for Mice, as Barn-Owls 

 have been killed near Lynn with poisoned Mice. I have lately 

 heard of two Barn-Owls caught in Rat-traps whilst in search of 

 the very vermin for which the traps were set. In one case the 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. V., ApriU J901, M 



