BARN-OWL 



ST1UX FLAMMEA, Linn. 



Strix flaramea, Linn. S. N. i. p. 133 (1766); Naum. i. 

 p. 483; Macg. iii. p. 473; Hewitson, i. p. 61; Dresser, 

 v. p. 237. 



Aluco flammeus, Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 194. 



Effraye commune, French; Schleier-Eule, German; Le- 

 chuza, Spanish. 



This most useful of birds is more or less common 

 throughout the United Kingdom, and is perhaps better 

 known as White or Screech-Owl, than by the designa- 

 tion above given. I am glad to believe that the minds 

 of game-preservers and game-keepers are gradually 

 awakening to the fact that in destroying Owls in general, 

 and this species in particular, they are committing acts 

 of the most egregious folly, not only as regards the 

 birds which are the special objects of their care and 

 protection, but also from an agricultural point of view, 

 for these Owls not only destroy enormous numbers of 

 rats, mice, and voles, but also take many Sparrows and 

 other seed-eating birds from their nocturnal resorts ; the 

 stolid and unenlightened game-keeper may plead that 



