Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-04
THE BARy OWL


THE BARN OWL
Probably the most important from an eco
nomic point Of view among owls is the barn
owl. lis food is almost entirely made up Of
injurious mammals. In the west il feeds
largely on pouched gophers. and the stomach
contents Of many individuals examined have
revealed little else than the remains 81 these
rodents. To appreciate properly the services
of this owl il must be remembered that pouched
gophers are among the most. If not the most,
destructive mammals which inhabit this coun-
try. In the south this owl lives largely on cot
ton rats, another very destructive species In
various other localities il feeds extensively on
the common rat The great horned owl. which
In the east Is persistent in its attacks on poul-
try and game, kills immense numbers Of rab-
bits in rabbit-infested parts of the west, where
Its assistance is invaluable to the farmer. Ii is
much addicted to eating skunks. of which il de-
YOURS great numbers wherever those objection
able animals are common. A story Is told Of
an owl of this species in Georgia which saw a
cat doing on the roof of a smoke house. Sup
posing grimalkin to be some harmless rabbit
like beast, the bird snatched her up in his
talons. He quickly found that he had caught a
tartar and let pussy go.
On tho whole owls are declared to be among
the most beneficial OF all birds infiicting little
damage on the poulterer and vastly befriending
the farmer. Their eyesight is not so defective
keenest in the twilight OF morning and evening
Hunting during these hours, their food con-
sists largely Of those animals which hawks
do not trouble much and their work
supplements that Of hawks, helping TO
prevent the undue increase of many OBJ
noxious rodents. The smallest owl in North
America is the Elf owl. which is found in the
southwestern part of the United States. II is
less than six inches long. and il nearly always
breeds in the deserted holes which wood
peckers have left in the giant csctuses.
THE BIRDS OF PREY.
OF the birds Of prey with which this country
is 80 well supplied there are but few which de-
serve to be put on the black list as injurious to
man. These feathered creatures are well
lifted by nature to play an important
part in the maintenance of the balance
in the animal world. Possessed of amazingly
acute eyesight. strong bills for tearing their
prey and sharp talons that lock with a never
failing clutch and insure the speedy Death
OF victim by piercing it's entrails, they
are admirably equipped for their occupa-
hon- They are all great eaters. and. when the
supply of food is unlimited, they are gorged
most Of the time. Their digestion is rapid and
the amount OF food they consume is astonish-
ing. On the other hand they are required
at times, by reason OF Indictment weather or
other causes, to Withstand great exposure and
protracted fasts. In the rapacious birds the
indigestible portions of food. such as feathers,
hair. bones and the hard coverings Of insects,
are formed into balls by the movements of
the stomach. After the nutritious parts
have been absorbed these pellets" are
thrown up and disgorged before a new supply
OF food IL taken. The movements of the
stomach SO shape the pellets that every sharp
piece Of bone other hard material which
might otherwise iniure the mucous membrane
is carefully enveioped by felty covering of
In ha Of
of the owls which have regular roosting
places vast numbers Of these pellets accumu-
late on the ground, and examination of them
gives perfect index to the character of the
food OF the birds. One Of the owls which are
in i'll repute with farmers is the barred owl
Nevertheless its reputation is undeserved. mas
much as 81 per cent of its food consists Of rab-
bits, squirrels, rats. mice, frogs and crawfish
The long-eared and short-eared owls also feed
extensively Oh mice.
THE INJURIOUS SPECIES OF HAWKS,
which feed mainly on animals that are useful to
man. are the sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's
hawk, the goshawk, the duck hawk, the gyrfal-
con and the fish hawk. The goshawk is COM
paratiyely rare in most farming districts
OF the United States, being a bird of the
far north, otherwise its destructiveness to
poultry would be great Few species
are more fond of poultry and game birds. the
large size enabling 1t to carry of with ease
full-grown fowl Ruled grouse often fall a
prey to it, on which account il is sometimes
called the partridge hawk" 1t strikes