Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/161

Rh I have also heard proceed from the parent, but of this I am not sure. By remaining perfectly still it becomes distinctly audible, but the Owls are very alert in detecting the sound of footsteps under their tree. It is difficult to understand what purpose this wheezing noise can serve, and unfortunately it often leads to their detection. I have encouraged and protected Owls in every way for many years, but never had nests in November before, and do not for a moment believe that either of them contained a first brood. One of my Owl-tubs which blew down some weeks ago contained what I can only describe as a felt carpet of mouse remains, the stamped-down pellets and rejectamenta of two years; but mingled with this mass was the platform of a Stock-Dove's nest. A Barn-Owl's home is at all times distinctly odoriferous, and compares unfavourably therefore with that of a Tawny Owl, which latter bird, I am assured by Mr. Meade Waldo, never leaves castings in its hole. It was from the above-mentioned tub that Mr. Bird and I on one occasion counted the skulls of thirty-eight Sparrows, one Rat, one Shrew, one Long-tailed Field-Mouse, and two Short-tailed ditto, which my man had thrown out; but in general my investigations have shown a much larger proportion of Mice than that. A pellet generally contains two Mice, sometimes the bones of four, and it does not take very long for thirty or forty pellets to accumulate in a hole, and probably four times as many are ejected elsewhere. Many of the old Norfolk barns have "Owl-holes"—round holes at the top under the eaves—but now that the plan is to stack everything out of doors, and sell the grain when it is threshed, the Owls' services are not so much appreciated. There is still a prevalent idea that Owls and Cats will kill but not eat Shrew-Mice, which is quite erroneous so far as the Barn-Owl is concerned, for Shrew-skulls are often to be found in their castings; but I have never found remains of a Bat.

Field-Rats have been more abundant during the autumn of 1900 than for many years, and no wonder they increase when the gamekeepers systematically destroy nature's police. Persons may do great harm who spread poison in stacks for Mice, as Barn-Owls have been killed near Lynn with poisoned Mice. I have lately heard of two Barn-Owls caught in Rat-traps whilst in search of the very vermin for which the traps were set. In one case the Zool. 4th ser. vol. V., Apri. 1901.