The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-20
Mature Louers'
Little Corner

When the Virginia farmer speaks OF
up to the complimentary tone that one
should use IN referring to such an ac-
tive friend OF the farm as these birds
really are All through their work
Ing hours. from sunset to sunrise. they
are preying upon the farmers enemies
Of field and barn.
Owls are exceedingly Interesting
birds. and In them there is much TO
admire. Nearly ali arc night hyers,
and by reason of their soft, fluffy
plumage. which renders their night
noiseless, they are especially fitted to
keep In check the grand army OF de-
structive rodents that roam abroad
under cover of darkness. In Virginia
We have chiefly the Barn Owl, Screech,
the Long Eared. the Barred and the
Great Horned Owl. In our section they
are by no means destructive to
poultry and Wild bird life as is sup
posed by some people.
The Barn Owl. so partial to the roofs
OF civilized man. especially 10 the re-
fremont and quiet OF church belfries,
rarely molests birds-probably never,
unless forced by hunger; and all over
the world. wherever 1t ia found. its
favorite food Is rats and mice AS a
destroyer OF the meanest verm!n on
earth (rats). Il has no equal The
number an Industrious pair Will de-
stroy in a year is OF material value
to that neighborhood. and therefore
this species deserves the most careful
protection that man can give IT,
The awful storm beaten wall" OF
the Screech Owl, coming as 1t does
from the deep shades OF night. Is one
M ba aSil L.
In nature. Ask n person ii ne has
ever heard Screech Owl, and he
always knows whether he has OF not
Even the poorest memory cannot fall
back on that well-worn phrase III |
have, I have forgotten IT." In the
same locality. in tho same season. will
be found Screech Owls that have two
distinct and widely diverse colors red
and gray" For this very odd do
velopment we are quite unable to ac-
count; and such lawless color-varia
lions are called phases" possibly as
some one suggested. because they
phase the naturalists who try TO study
out their why's and wherefores" The
Screech Owls diet. given IN order OF
preference, consists OF mice, grass
hoppers. locusts. cutworms. beetles,
caterpillars. cricltets. spiders. lizards.
frogs. crawfish. English sparrows and
birds.
Now the question Is, what shall be
our attitude to this owl? Shall we be
FOR announcement. tolerat!ou or lmi-
tation? When you consider the part
OF the bill-of-f fare through to the Eng
fish sparrows can YOU say cXtermina-
ton? ITO me-" says prominent
American naturalist, "thc Scrcech
Owls should be limited, for the bencn,
of the song birds: but I do not be-
i!eve In determination"
OF the Long cared Owl. that brown
ish- gray bird familiar to the Who'll,
United States. DR. a. X Fisher. after
careful observation and examination
OF numbers of the cast-up pellets.
writing from Virginia. says. "Tt Is both
cruel and pernicous to modest n bird
so valuable and innocent MS the one
under consideration The pretty Bar
red Owl, often In captivity. has n qucs-
tionable record also. bur on the whole
1t should he kept on the list OF pro-
tected birds.
the Great Horned Owl. He Is the tiger
OF the air. ana acknowledged to be.
with two possible exceptions the most
destructive bird to poultry The I'M
questionable heavy debit balance
against this bird justiics its destruc-
t!on Nevertheless 1t does go against
the grain to destroy a bird which kills
so many rats. which In their turn, IL
left alive, would consume such guam
titles OF grain. along with numbers
of young chickens and eggs
A reliable guide In passing a sem
tence against any bird Is to remem-
Der that 1T Is always dangerous
and often calamitous, 10 disturb vio-
lcntly the balance OF nature. either hy
the destruction OF existing species Of
birds or mammals. or by the introduce
ton OF new ones"
Let us then remember that owls are
beneficial birds. in'icting little dam
age upon the producers of poultry, and
comforting vast benefits upon the farm
by destruction OF mammal and insect
pests. From sunset to sunrise they
prey upon animals which by remaining