The Short-Eared Owl 219
‘ British Birds' it is stated "that when plagues of tnicc occur Owls throng to the spot, rendering the greatest serviCe in extirpating the pests." Undoubt- edly the Short-eared Owls prey to a very limited extent upon small birds: but the percentage of harm is so small. when compared with the good the Owls do. that it should not be taken into aCCount. Their regular and principal food is noxious mammals. with some beetles, locusts and other insects, and an occasional bird. It is a very well-authenticated fact that in large game-preserves. where Hawks and Owls are shot to the point of extermination, the inevitable result is an abnormal increase in rats and mice, even to the extent of a plague.
On one occasion the writer kept a Short-eared Owl in captivity for about a month, in order to study its habits. It was confined in a large box with a wire front. at first in the open air and, subsequently. in a light cellar, Every effort was made to tame its wildness. by handling it with the greatest gentleness and never approaching it abruptly. No measure of success attended the efiort; on the contrary, the Owl seemed to grow wilder and more excitable when approached. A visitor was always saluted with a series of violent hisses, accompanied by a ruffling of the feathers over the whole body. The hisses were often followed by a violent snapping of the man- dibles. which was continued for some time. especially if food were not given. If the visit were in the daytime. the exhibitions of fear or temper were much more violent than at night. This may be accounted for from the fact that at night the Owl was dazzled by a bright light being held within a few inches of the cage. If the light were moved from end to end of the cage the eyes of the Owl always followed it, thus showing that the light was a much stronger attraction than the visitor; however, the light was by no means so absorbing that it prevented the Owl from seizing food when presented. if hungry ; if not hungry. no attention would be paid to anything but the flame. If food were seized it was merely held by the claws until the light was removed. It was also one of the Owl‘s habits to hold surplus food with one foot when its hunger was satisfied. On a number of occasions a surfeit of house>mice was offered, but the Owl would not eat to exceed more than three mice at one time.
Once the process of disgorging a pellet was observed, The Owl was about to be fed, when it commenced a series of contortions which seemed to‘ in- volve the whole body. Three of these movements or contortions took place. then a pellet was thrown from the Owl's mouth. It was nearly two inches long. and about three-quarters of an inch at its greatest diameter. It was covered with a slimy substance which made it very slippery. The pellet dried quickly. when no trace of any greasy substance was found. and it is therefore probable that the lubricating matter must be lodged in the throat and stomach of the Owl and is only used in small quantities on the sur- face of the pellet. not being mixed with the whole mass.
