98 BIRD FRIENDS 



mice or their equivalent in insects, and that each mouse or 

 its equivalent so destroyed would cause the farmer a loss 

 of two cents per annum. Therefore, the lowest estimate 

 of the value to the farmer of each hawk and owl would 

 be twenty dollars a year. 



Mr. E. H. Baynes estimates the money value of 

 a pair of marsh hawks substantially as follows: 

 Eight meadow mice have been found in the stomach 

 of a single marsh hawk. Assuming on the average 

 that the bird destroys only half this number each 

 day, a pair would destroy 2920 mice in a year. It 

 has been estimated that each mouse causes an 

 annual loss to the farmer of two cents in damaging 

 crops. Thus the destruction of 2920 mice means 

 the saving of $58.40, which represents the yearly 

 money value of a pair of marsh hawks. 



