THE LITTLE OWL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 164, 5 April 1919, Page 8

THE LITTLE OWL

CONFLICTING ESTIMATES OB .CHAItACTEE.

Mr F B. D- Onslow,' lecturing to young people on "Some British Birds hud their Homes," at the Central Hall. Wcstminsler, for the Boyal Colonia Insiitute. showed in a series of pictures ffd& it is to .talk wild birds successfully with a camera, how much patenco and endurance are required 2nd how gratifying tho results may be. The black-Leaded gulls of a NorHiijmber. land tarn, herons nesting at tho top or n tall Scols fir. and ft variety of o\la in the samo county followed one another on tho screen. . , Tho little owl, Mr. Onslow exptaraed. was brought into Lincolnshire in 1850. and died out, but was reintroduced, and is now found in all the eastern counties and is spreading all over England. Air. Onslow called him "« Hun living on British products," and Rave him a very bad character. On one estate tho gamekeepers found 74 young pheasants, all dead, up a trco which was tho home ot a 'The"chairman, Mr. W. L. Sclater. disagreed with, tho lecturer, pointing out that the little owl had onco prevented a iilamie of voles. The lecturer: That is the first good word I have ever heard of tho little owl. Snapshots of woodcock, redshanks, curlews, and wild duck wero shown, which had been taken while the photographer was disßiiisod as a dead sheep. Ho tried tho living sheep first, but was so successfully got up that ho roused the antrer lof a ram with extra large horns, liehires of more homely birds and ot a series of great crested grebes from Lord Jersey's seat, Osterley Park, Is ewor h, wero ■ also shown. In the Sully Isles Mr. Onslow had photographed hung stories about birds-a love drama among the greater black-headed gulls (which swallow 3in. puffins whole) and comedies of tho baby cormorants.