Jan., 1915 
BIRDS OF THE BOSTON MOUNTAINS, ARKANSAS 
57 
Sialia sialis sialis. Bluebird. Common resident, but the numbers were 
greatly increased by winter visitants. Its principal food during the cold 
weather was sumac berries. Nidification began about March 25. Young and 
adults were both molting heavily as late as September 18. 
San Antonio, Texas, October 22, 1914. 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
Barn Owls as the Farmer’s Friends. — On May 13, 1914, while staying for a short 
time at the Herminghaus Ranch near Mendota, Fresno County, California, I was in- 
formed that there were two nests of Monkey-faced Owls in the tank house, which is a 
large three-story affair built on a slight knoll a short distance from the house. Although 
the tank is still in place the building has been in disuse for several years. 
Upon investigation I found that two pairs of Barn Owls ( Aluco pratincola) had 
shared the structure with a colony of Cliff Swallows and a great number of bats. One 
nest was placed in the tank on the bones, fur, pellets, and refuse that had accumulated 
to a depth of several inches. One bird was perched on a beam overhead asleep, while 
his mate occupied the nest which contained four very small birds and six eggs. Scat- 
tered about on the floor were five Pocket Gophers ( Thomomys ), five Kangaroo Rats 
(Pcrodipus) , one Pocket Mouse (Perognathus) , and two white-footed mice (Peromyscus) , 
all of which were in good condition and undoubtedly of the previous night’s capture. 
Besides these, there were partly eaten remains and fresh skeletons of several more. All 
evidence pointed to the fact that this place had been used for a great many years by 
owls, as I picked up nearly four hundred entire pellets and could have secured many 
mere. 
The other nest was on the floor of the platform between the siding and tank in a 
rather exposed situation, and the nine eggs had been deserted for some time. 
A second visit was made to the Herminghaus Ranch on July 19, and upon inquiry 
about the owls, I was informed that all of the ten eggs in the first mentioned nest had 
hatched and only one of the owlets failed to come to maturity. My informant also 
stated that early in June a second set, consisting of seven eggs, had been deposited and 
produced seven sturdy birds, the youngest of which was still present, being unwilling to 
attempt a long flight. 
Aside from the late nesting dates, there was another fact that may have had some 
significance. Mr. Albert Foster, the superintendent of the ranch, realizes the great 
benefit that he derives from the presence of such efficient mammal destroyers about the 
place, and affords them protection at all times; but he informs me that a former tenant 
persistently shot all hawks and owls and destroyed their nests at every opportunity, and 
that on the Herminghaus Ranch, the Barn Owls were reduced almost to the point of ex- 
termination. Is it not possible that these nocturnal hunters, now safe from persecution, 
are depositing large sets of eggs in an effort to regain their normal abundance in that 
region? 
If the thoughtless farmers who so relentlessly destroy this owl on account of its sup- 
posed fondness for chickens and pigeons would take the trouble to keep watch of a nest- 
site through one season, the most ignorant among them could hardly fail to realize that 
they are working against their own best interests whenever they kill a Barn Owl. Then, 
if we could convince sportsmen that all hawks and owls are not the ravenous destroyers 
of game birds that hunters generally suppose them to be, we would not be saddened by 
the all too frequent sight of the remains of numerous innocent Sparrow Hawks and Red- 
tails that are to be found on the ground beneath the telephone and power wires along so 
many of our country roads during the shooting season, and the plague-infested squirrels, 
of which we have heard so much in recent years, would cease to be a supposed menace 
to our health, or destroyers of the farmers’ crops. — John G. Tyler, Fresno. California. 
Two Birds New to California. — Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis. While collecting Jan- 
uary 17, 1914, at La Punta, located on the south end of San Diego Bay, I shot a Louisiana 
Heron. It proved to be an adult female. 
