552 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



These Owls are more sociable than larger ones, and assemble in 

 flocks in autumn and spring to migrate into warmer climates ; they 

 depart after the Swallows, and get to their destination soon after. 

 They are of great service to the agriculturist in destroying field-mice. 

 "At times when this scourge was prevalent," says Buffon, "small 

 Horned Owls have been known to arrive in numbers, and wage such a 



Fig. 256. — The Scops-eared Owl. 



successful warfare against the field-mice, that in a few days the 

 ground was cleared of them." 



Dale, an English author, mentions another example of the utility 

 of the Scops. In 1580 such a large quantity of mice appeared in the 

 plains near South Minster that all the plants were gnawed off by the 

 roots. Soon after, a number of small Horned Owls came in flocks, 

 and destroyed the mice. 



When pressed by hunger, the Scops is not above eating fish. It 

 may then be seen hovering over ponds and rivers, and seizing them 



