1026 



Feeding Habits of the Little Owl. [Feb., 



Although frequently seen about in the daytime, when it is 

 heavy and stupid and not like the same bird, the Little Owl is 

 most active after sunset and in the early morning before 

 daybreak. 



It is a remarkable ground feeder, getting over a considerable 

 amount of ground and picking up practically all insect life that 

 it meets with. At dusk it may be seen sitting on a post or 

 tree trunk every now and then making short low nights often 

 quite close to the ground. It will also search over the larger 

 branches of trees for insects. 



During the nesting season earthworms are largely taken for 

 the young. 



Opinions of Correspondents, etc. — The following notes from 

 correspondents are of considerable interest : — 



From A. A. C. (Suffolk). — ''The Little Owl may do damage to game, but 

 from my own observations I have thus far no evidence of that. We have a 

 good head of partridges. One nest I found was on one of two isolated trees 

 near a wood ; game here and around was as plentiful as elsewhere. As far as 

 I can prove, they are beneficial." 



From C. M. A. (Surrey and Cambridge). — "At all the breeding haunts I 

 have visited 1 have never found remains of either game birds or poultry, and 



one nest was within a few hundred yards of a farm" where there 



were " young chickens, ducks, and guinea fowl." 



From G. P. (Monmouth). — "Although I cannot prove any criminality against 

 them, they have a terrifying influence over game, and I have noticed 

 particularly an entire absence of snipe in the locality they frequent." 



From G. F. X. (Northamptonshire). — " I have found them very destructive 

 among young pheasants. I once saw one take a pheasant about a week old 

 and disappear into a hole in a tree. I shot it when it came out. I enlarged 

 the hole and found eleven young pheasants and one wild duck a few days old 

 and four young owls." 



From A. H. B. (Somerset). — "I feel sure this wretched Little Owl, which 

 never ought to have been introduced, must do a lot of harm. It looks far too 

 innocent by day. I have often watched it, but cannot catch it red-handed." 



From S. S. (Dorset). — k ' I cannot say that I have actually seen the Little 

 Owl do any damage to partridge." 



From G. K. (Northamptonshire). — " The Little Owl is very plentiful here 

 and increasing. In their ' larders ' I have found adult starlings, house-sparrows 

 and other smtul birds, also bank voles and long-tailed field mice, but I have 

 never seen any game. It may occasionally take a chick, but I have no proof. 

 Their pellets contain large numbers of beetles." 



From C. L. J. (Lincoln). — " I have seen them strike and carry off young 

 pheasants and have found remains of young pheasants in and near the nests. 

 I have never seen it attack adult game birds . . . They destroy a great 

 quantity of rats, mice, and voles." 



From C. E. (Essex). — " We have had Little Owls here for many years,, 

 and although there is plenty of game I have no actual proof that they destroy 



