remarks, that " cats are known to kill, but never to eat the 
Shrew, which is fuppofed to poiTefs fonne poifonous quality ; 
we have, however, taken from the ftomach of one of thefe 
birds, no lefs than five." 
During dark and cloudy weather, this fpecies may fre-, 
quently be feen abroad in the day-time, when it preys on 
fmali birds, previoufly to fwallowing of which, it holds them, 
with one claw, and with its bill cruflies the principal 
bones, beginning at the head and fhifting its poffeffion till it 
arrives at the other extremity ; it then generally fwallows them 
without plucking or feparating ; and ejeds the ikin, fur, 
feathers, and bones, in the form of pellets ; large quantities 
of which may often be found in the places where this bird 
breeds. 
It builds in barns or old ruinous buildings, and fometimes in 
the decayed hollows of trees ; when in a barn the neft is only 
a hollow in any heap of flraw or other loofe fubftance ; when 
it breeds in a tree, the eggs are laid on the foft decayed mould 
at the bottom of the hole ; it lays three or four white eggs 
fcarcely fo large, but rounder than thofe of the common hen. 
The note of this fpecies is remarkably unpleafant and dif- 
cordant, being in the fpring a loud harlli fcream, mofl gene- 
rally uttered while on wing ; when preffed by hunger, it 
frequently fqueaks in the manner of the common moufe, 
which may ferve as a decoy to allure them within its reach ; 
it alfo utters a loud hiffing noife during the greater part of the 
night ; when difpleafed or alarmed it fnaps its bill with great 
force. This bird is eafily tamed and foon becomes familiar ; 
in confinement it will devour moft kinds of animal fubdances, 
and alfo bread. 
