THE DESTRUCTIVE RODENT 



Hawks may be classed as highly beneficial to man, 

 the larger hawks, such as the buzzards, much less so on 

 account of their disposition to attack and kill poultry. 



The eagles are not of much economic value to man, 

 owing to their lamb and poultry destroying habits. 

 They kill off large numbers of rats, but their smaller 

 cousins the hawks, if left in peace, are capable of 

 keeping these rodents in check. 



In the past the eagle acted as a natural check on 

 small antelopes, klip dassies, various rodent animals, 

 such as hares, game birds, etc. ; but such services are 

 not now required, and the larger eagles will in time 

 pass from the face of the earth. 



Sir Boverton Redwood, speaking to the British 

 Science Guild in 19 14, said : " It is estimated that 

 the birds of Nebraska eat 170 cartloads of insects a 

 day; that those of Massachusetts destroy 21,000 

 bushels of insects daily ; and that a single species of 

 hawk saves the farmers of the Western States 175,000 

 dollars a year by destroying grasshoppers and field 

 mice. Yet millions of people wantonly kill birds that 

 destroy injurious and disease-spreading insects." 



The moral of these facts applies to South Africa. 



" You slay them all ! and wherefore ? For the gain 

 Of a scant handful, more or less, of wheat, 

 Or rye, or barley, or some other grain 



Scratched up at random bv industrious feet 

 Searching for worm or weevil after rain ! 

 Or a few cherries that are not so sweet 

 As are the songs these uninvited guests 



Sing at their feast with comfortable breasts. 1 ' 



Longfellow. 

 179 



