ground was covered with the "' castings " of the Owls, composed entirely of the fur 

 and bones of the mice. 



The committee linally reported : " It would be dilticult to condemn too severely 

 the foolish action of those who allow or encourage the destruction of Hawks and 

 Owls. It is with much satisfaction that your committee record that many farmers 

 and land owners seem to have become convinced in late years that Hawks and Owls 

 are not only harmless but most beneficial to agriculturists and have issued orders 

 ['or the preservation of these birds." 



Our position in Ontario may at any time, if we are not careful, resemble that of 

 the Scotch farmers in 1893. It would be well therefore for our people to exert 

 their best influence for the protection of our beneficial Hawks and Owls at once, 

 in order to avert what may develop into a serious calamity. 



The birds of prey may be rouglily divided into two classes — the Hawks and 

 the Owls. Of the Eagles little need be said; they are now so rarely found in the 

 cultivated districts that their influence for good or ill is practically nothing. 



HAWKS. 



Of the hawks there are eleven species, occurring regularly in this Province in 

 greater or less abundance every season. These are the Marsh Hawk, Sharp-shinned 

 Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Goshawk, Eed-tailed Hawk, Eed-shouldered Hawk, Broad- 

 winged Hawk, Eough-legged Hawk, Duck Hawk, Pigeon Hawk and Sparrow 

 Hawk; there are two or three others, but they are only occasional visitors. Of 

 these eleven, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Goshawk, Duck Hawk and 

 Pigeon Hawk are the species which occasionally make raids upon the poultry yards, 

 and which at all times seem to prefer feathered game to either fur or insects ; they 

 should, therefore, be shot whenever the opportunity is given. The Sharp-shinned 

 Hawk and Cooper's Hawk are the two species which most frequently attack poultry. 

 They are both small hawks, but make up for their lack of siy.e by boldness and 

 dexterity. It is but seldom they attack a full-grown fowl, but if they once find an 

 accessible lot of chickens they will continue to visit the flock until they have taken 

 them all, or are killed in the attempt to do so. The mischief done by these two 

 species has been the principal cause of the prejudice existing among farmers 

 against all the hawk tribe, and is usually given as an excuse for the slaughter of 

 tlie valuable species whose constant work inures to man's benefit. The food of the 

 Duck Hawk and Pigeon Hawk consists chiefly of wild birds. They rarely visit the 

 farms, their usual resort being the marshes and shores of lakes frequented by water 

 fowl. The Pigeon Hawk is not so named because it has any preference for pigeons, 

 either wild or domestic, but because it slightly resembles a pigeon in shape both 

 when on the wing and when at rest. 



The Goshawk fortunately does not visit the cultivated portion of Ontario in 

 any ]iumbers regularly; it is a winter visitor usually; and rather an expensive one 

 to entertain when it does come. Tlio winter of 1896-7 wa* one of tlio seasons in 

 which it was particularly abundant throu2:h southern Ontario, and poultry owners 

 suffered greatly from its destructive powers in conse(]uence. This Hawk is a large 

 powerful bird, quite capable of killing and carry ofT a full ijrown hen. Owing to 

 its boldness and strens'th it is capable of doing a great deal of damage, and sliould 

 consequently be killed whenever seen. As previously stated, this liawk generally 

 occurs in winter, and therefore it is not likely to be mistaken for any of the hawks 

 whose food habits are beneficial. As a general rule, if a hawk is soon about the 

 farm-vard during the winter it is safe to assume that it i* \horo for no good 



