0 W L. 
BA RN- 
STRIX FLAMMEA. 
Tiie Barn-Owl is generally distributed over the southern portions of Great Britain. It occurs less frequently 
towards the north, while in the Highlands not more than a dozen specimens have come under my observation. 
Large numbers of this quaint-looking bird arc killed down without the slightest cause or reason. A visit 
to the shops of the local staffers in any country town will plainly show the senseless slaughter to which this 
useful species is exposed. An inspection of the immense quantities of pellets thrown up by these Owls in their 
resting-places would speedily convince those who might be inclined to doubt the fact that the benefits they 
confer on farmers by the destruction of small vermin are by no means imaginary. The apertures left in 
many old-fashioned barns for the accommodation of the Owl indicates that our ancestors were better acquainted 
with the habits of the bird and anxious to encourage it to take up its quarters on their premises. I have now 
and then heard farmers, even at the present day, insisting that these inoffensive birds regularly destroyed 
their Pigeons, and also bringing other impossible charges against them. From my own experience, l have no 
hesitation in stating that this is one of the most harmless as well as the most useful of all our British birds. 
This Owl is decidedly nocturnal in its habits, seldom making its appearance abroad during daylight, umoao 
disturbed from its resting-place. If driven beyond the outskirts of the wood it frequents, or the shelter of its 
haunt in the barn or church, it soon collects a mob of excited small birds to follow in its track. Shortly 
before dusk one afternoon during the winter of 1881, my attention was attracted to a commotion created 
by four or five Grey Crows which were flying over a fir-plantation in the cast of Norfolk, screaming loudly, and 
occasionally darting down among the trees. I soon discovered the cause of their anger when a White Owl, 
which had left his quarters in a neighbouring church-tower rather before the accustomed hour, flapped out 
from the cover. lie, however, appeared to pay but little heed to the noisy demonstration of the Crows, as, 
after continuing his uncertain flight for some distance over the adjacent marshes, lie again entered the wood, 
where he continued searching for prey, utterly regardless of the mobbing of the Crows. I noticed that these 
birds took not the slightest notice of a Short-eared Owl which was hunting over the rushes close at hand. 
ossibly they were used to the sight of their constant companion the Marsh-Owl (as this species is termed in 
the district), and considered his white relative an unwelcome stranger 
For building-purposes this Owl resorts to hollow trees, church-towers, old horns, and ruined buildings. 
Ihe same situation is made use of year after year, unless the tenants are forcibly evicted or destroyed. 
the Owl hntlT l 1 T 1 ' eard I™ 8 ”■“* giVen *° tMs «*•«“• »* ««t common tit'le, perhaps, is 
the Barn-Owl , but it is also known as the White, Screech, and Church-Owl. 
haek^nr^tTv i ^ ^ ** rcduccd fl S urc of old male in the 
n^Xton t W„ 1S ““ f "° m * ^ 1 “ of Chiltington 
to ™t comi f ably ia *■ ; iu tus insta “ c °- 
ccu tllc "hole of the juvenile members of the family. 
