1136 



Feeding Habits of the Little Owl. 



[Mar., 



Vegetable Food. — Of the total bulk of food consumed in the 

 year vegetable matter constitutes 6.51 per cent. This con- 

 sisted chiefly of grass and bits of leaves and .55 per cent, of 

 weed seeds. 



Food of Nestlings, — Only 18 stomachs of nestlings were 

 examined. They are, however, of great importance in that they 

 show that the actual amount of insect food is lower than 

 during any other period. The young birds do not seem to be 

 able to deal with beetles, but beetle larvae and earthworms 

 constitute 18 and 23 per cent, of the food during this period. 

 Voles and mice form 49 per cent., wild birds 10 per cent., and 

 game birds nil. 



Examination of Pellets. — Targe numbers of pellets (267) 

 from all parts of England were examined. The average weight 

 is 60 grains. They consist almost entirely of animal remains. 

 Of the total bulk 53.5 per cent, consists of voles and mice, 

 insect remains form 41 per cent., of which 17.8 per cent, are of 

 injurious insects, 2.2 per cent, of beneficial insects, and 21 per 

 cent, of neutral species. Young birds are represented by 2.5 per 

 cent, and miscellaneous and unidentified animal matter by 

 3 per cent. In none of the pellets were any traces of game birds 

 found. 



Variation of the Food according to Season. — Even supposing 

 all the charges relative to the destruction of } 7 oung game birds 

 w T ere true, it is obvious that such food is only available for a 

 comparatively short season of the year. It is therefore 

 important that we should know the exact nature of the food 

 throughout the whole year. 



The seasonal variation in diet is much less in the Little Owl 

 than in most land birds, and remains of game birds were only 

 found in two cases and both of these accurred in the month 

 of June. Indeed, of the two specimens one had been fed by 

 the keeper with dead pheasant chicks. 



Mammals, injurious and neutral insects and earthworms 

 were found throughout the year, as also a small quantity of 

 vegetable matter. 



Variation of the Food according to Locality. — The following 

 table sufficiently explains itself, as showing considerable varia- 

 tions in the food taken by the Little Owl in all the counties 

 involved : — 



