BIRDS USEFUL TO FARM AND ORCHARD 641 
period of a week or more. With the ex- 
ception of the burrowing owl it is prob- 
ably the most insectivorous of the noc- 
turnal birds of prey. It feeds also upon 
small mammals, birds, reptiles, batrach- 
ians, fish, spiders, crawfish, scorpions and 
earthworms. Grasshoppers, ground-dwell- 
ing beetles, crickets, and caterpillars are 
its favorites among insects, as are field 
mice among mammals and sparrows 
among birds. Out of 324 stomachs exam- 
ined, 169 were found to contain insects; 
142, small mammals; 56, birds; and 15, 
crawfish. The screech owl should be en- 
couraged to stay near barns and out- 
houses, as it will keep in check house 
mice and wood mice, which frequent such 
places. 
Barn Owl 
Aluco pratincola 
Length, about 17 inches. Facial disk 
not circular as in our other owls; plum- 
age above, pale yellow; beneath, varying 
from silky white to pale bright tawny. 
Range 
Resident in Mexico, in the Southern 
United States, and north to New York, 
Ohio, Nebraska and California. 
Habits and Economie Status 
The barn owl, often called monkey- 
faced owl, is one of the most beneficial 
of the birds of prey, since it feeds almost 
exclusively on small mammals that in- 
jure farm produce, nursery, and orchard 
stock. It hunts principally in the open 
and consequently secures such mammals 
as pocket gophers, field mice, common 
rats, house mice, harvest mice, kangaroo 
rats and cotton rats. It occasionally cap- 
tures a few birds and insects. At least 
a half bushel of the remains of pocket 
gophers have been found in the nesting 
cavity of a pair of these birds. Remem- 
bering that a gopher has been known in 
a short time to girdle seven apricot trees 
worth $100 it is hard to overestimate the 
value of the service of a pair of barn 
owls. 1,247 pellets of the barn owl] col- 
lected from Smithsonian towers contained 
3,100 skulls, of which 3,004, or 97 per 
cent, were of mammals; 92, or three per 
cent, of birds; and four were of frogs. 
The bulk consisted of 1,987 field mice, 
656 house mice, and 210 common rats. 
The birds eaten were mainly sparrows 
and blackbirds. This valuable owl should 
be rigidly protected throughout its entire 
range. 
Sparrow Hawk 
Falco sparverius 
Length, about 10 inches. This is one 
of the best known and handsomest, as 
well as the smallest, of North American 
hawks. 
Range 
Breeds throughout the United States, 
Canada and Northern Mexico; winters in 
the United States and south to Gaute- 
mala. 
Habits and Economic Status 
The sparrow hawk, which is a true fal- 
con, lives in the more open country and 
builds its nest in hollow trees. It is 
abundant in many parts of the West, 
where telegraph poles afford it conven- 
ient perching and feeding places. TIis 
food consists of insects, small mammals, 
birds, spiders and reptiles. Grasshop- 
pers, crickets, and terrestrial beetles and 
caterpillars make up considerably more 
than half its subsistence, while field mice, 
house mice, and shrews cover fully 25 per 
cent of its annual supply. The balance 
of the food includes birds, reptiles, and 
spiders. Contrary to the usual habits 
of the species, some individuals during 
the breeding season capture nestling 
birds for food for their young and create 
considerable havoc among the songsters 
of the neighborhood. In agricultural dis- 
tricts when new ground is broken by the 
plow, they sometimes become very tame, 
even alighting for an instant under the 
horses in their endeavor to seize a worm 
or insect. Out of 410 stomachs examined, 
314 were found to contain insects; 129, 
small mammals; and 70, small birds. This 
little falcon renders good service in de- 
stroying noxious insects and rodents and 
should be encouraged and protected. 
Red-Tailed Hawk 
Buteo borealis 
Length, about two feet. One of our larg- 
est hawks; adults with tail reddish brown. 
