( xl ) 



and shrews. This species is also recorded as feeding on 



large moths and beetles. 



80 Tawny Owls (Syrnium ahcco, L.). 1, earth-worms ; 2, small 



birds ; 1, rabbit ; 1, caterpillars ; 1, beetles ; 1, a weasel ; 4, 



empty ; 69, mice and shrews. Lord Lilford speaking of 



this bird says : — " I cannot acquit the brown owl of an 



occasional bit of poaching, but I am convinced that such 



occurrences are exceptional, and, in defence of a very 



favourite bird, may refer my readers to the result of 



an examination of 210 pellets, composed of the indigestible 



portions of food thrown up by birds of this species, quoted 



in Yarrell's 'British Birds,' fourth edition, p. 148. In 



the pellets the remains of 6 rats, 42 mice, 296 voles, 33 



shrews, 48 moles, 18 small birds, 48 beetles, besides (sic) a 



countless number of cockchafers, were discovered." 



16 Barn Owls (Strix Jiaiamea, L.). All mice. Occasionally 



this species feeds on beetles. 



14 Short-eared Owls (Asia accvpitrinus, Pall.). 1, bird ; 13, 



mice. This species also varies its diet with beetles ; this is 



probably the case, to a greater or less degree, with the 



whole of the Strigidte. 



I have received a very interesting communication with 



regard to the subject from Mr. R. Newstead ; he has worked 



systematically, and his observations are most valuable, as he 



is able, being a Coleopterist, to give a list of the families of the 



beetles found in the numerical order of their occurrence : he 



says that broadly speaking most insectivorous, and numbers 



of other birds eat beetles, and that he has chiefly found them 



in the stomachs of birds belonging to the following families or 



sub-families : — Turdinas (Thrushes and Blackbirds, Redstarts,* 



Robins, etc.); Cinclidaj (Dippers); Sylviime (Warblers); Parida} 



(Tits) ; Sittidee (Nuthatches) ; Certhiidaa (Tree Creepers) ; 



Motacillidaa (Wagtails) ; Laniidse (Shrikes) ; Muscicapidae 



(Flycatchers) ; Hirundinidse (Swallows) ; Cypselidee (Swifts) ; 



Sturnida? (Starlings) ; Corvidse (Crows and Rooks) ; Capri- 



mulgidaB (Goatsuckers) ; Picarise (Woodpeckers) ; Cuculidaa 



(Cuckoos), and also occasionally members of other Orders. 



* Mr. "W. Holland of the Oxford University Museum has kindly sent 

 me a note to the effect that he examined the crop of a Black Redstart and 

 found it full of small Staphylinidse. 





