Abstract
A simply key to identify the seven species of rodents which constitue the prey base of Bubo nengalensis (variously known as the Indian Eagle Owl, Bengal Eagle Owl, Great Horned Owl and Rock Horned Owl) in and around the Union Territory of Pondicherry, using only the lower mandibles, was developed for the use of raptor biologists, without going into extralimital taxonomic detail.  Fundamentals of qualitative pellet analysis were found to be influenced by behaviour and in this regard, a methodology for an unbiased analysis had to be evolved. This was reasoned to be the sum of the number of pairs of lower mandibles in addition to the number of carcass remains with heads (thus containing lower mandibles ) to give the number of rodents predated on by a pair and/ or family of owls within their territory.