94 BIRD FRIENDS 



tural interests of two and a half million dollars, or 

 that the State threw away $2105 for every dollar 

 saved. 



Study of food of hawks and owls. The Bureau of 

 Biological Survey has made a very careful study of 

 the food habits of the hawks and owls, and as a 

 result these birds are divided into four groups by 

 Dr. A. K. Fisher, who had charge of the investi- 

 gations : 



(1) Species which are wholly beneficial. To this 

 class belong six species: the large rough-legged 

 hawk, the squirrel hawk,, or ferruginous rough-leg, 

 and the four kites. 



(2) Species chiefly beneficial. This class contains 

 a majority of the hawks and owls, including twenty- 

 nine species, of which the following are among the 

 more common: marsh hawk, red-tailed hawk, red- 

 shouldered hawk, Swainson's hawk, broad-winged 

 hawk, sparrow hawk, barn owl, long-eared owl, 

 short-eared owl, and screech owl. 



(3) Species in which beneficial and harmful quali- 

 ties about balance. This class includes seven species : 

 the golden eagle, bald eagle, pigeon hawk, Richard- 

 son's hawk, Aplomado falcon, prairie falcon, and 

 great horned owl. 



(4) Harmful species. This class contains five spe- 

 cies: the gyrfalcons, duck hawk, goshawk, sharp- 

 shinned hawk, and Cooper's hawk. Of these the 

 first three are so rare that they do not need to be 



