A key is presented for the identification of dorsal guard hairs of 34 species of mammals from central Ontario. The key uses a suite of macroscopic and microscopic morphological features, including cross-sectional shape, medullary pattern, scale pattern, hair dimensions, and coloration.

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Fungal nail infections are common and notoriously difficult to treat. In this paper I present two cases of fungal nail infection treated conservatively with dry heat using a regular electromechanical blowdryer (hair dryer).

This study investigates the diet of six breeding pairs of powerful owls in the Yarra Valley Corridor in Victoria, Australia, and compares prey consumption with prey availability. The six sites represent a continuum of habitats, ranging from urban Melbourne, through the urban fringe interface to a more forested landscape. We found that powerful owls in the Yarra Valley Corridor are reliant almost exclusively on arboreal marsupial prey as their preferred diet, with 99% of their overall diet comprising four arboreal marsupial species. These four species (the common ringtail possum, common brushtail possum, sugar glider and greater glider) were also the most abundant species observed while spotlighting; however, their abundance varied along the continuum. There was a strong positive relationship with the presence of these species in the diet and their site-specific availability, indicating that the powerful owl is a generalist hunter, preying on the most available prey at a given site and in a given season. This study suggests that food resources are high in these disturbed urban fringe sites and it is unlikely that food availability in urban environments will limit the potential survival of urban powerful owls.

The diet of powerful owls (Ninox strenua) living at Christmas Hills, 35 km north-east of Melboume, was examined by analysis of 686 regurgitated pellets collected over two years. Mammalian prey was found in 89%, insects in 13%, vegetation in 11% and birds in 10% of the pellets. Of the mammals, common ringtail possums occurred most frequently in the pellets over the year. There was no seasonal difference in the frequency of occurrences of common ringtail possums and sugar gliders in pellets. However, common brushtail possums were more likely to be taken in spring than in the other seasons. More adult common ringtail possums were taken as prey than were other age classes over the year, except in summer when high numbers of young were consumed by the owls.