economic utility of the birds of prey I take pleasure in responding as 

 follows: To the ornithologist, whose business it is to study the habits 

 of birds, the widespread ignorance of the habits of the hawk and owl 

 tribe, and t'e mistaken idea as to the amouut of injury they do are 

 almost inconceivable. 



So common, however, are these erroneous ideas respecting the birds 

 of prey and the.r relations to the farmer and agriculturist that it is 

 not at all surprising that laws similar to the one now in force in 

 Pennsylvania should be enacted. 



Your own investigations into the nature of the food of the birds of 

 prey of your county might be cited in support of the statement that 

 such enactments are based upon erroneous conceptions. I may add 

 that wherever such investigations have been systematically conducted 

 they have resulted in a verdict favorable to the birds of prey. In 

 almost every portion of the country I have found the opinions of all 

 field ornithologists to be in favor of the preservation of the hawk 

 and owl tribe on account of the good they do. I believe the time 

 will come when the farmers as a class will carefully protect the hawks 

 and owls on the ground of their beneficent services. 



Following is the list of species most numerous in your state : 



1. Marsh Hawk Circus cyaneus hudsonius . 



2. Sparrow Hawk. Falco sparverius. 



3 Red -Shouldered Hawk. Bjiteo lineatus. 



4. Red-Tailed Hawk. Buteo borealis. 



5. Cooper's Hawk. Accipiter cooperi. 



6. Sharp-Shinned Hawk. Accipiter fuscus. 



7. Broad-Winged Hawk. Buteo pennsylvanicus. 



8. Rough-Leggen Hawk. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johd^nnis. 



9. Short-Eared Owl. Asio a-ccipitrinus. 



10. Screech Owl. Scops asio 



11. Long-Eared Owl. Asio wilsonianus. 



12. Barred Owl. Strix nebtilosz. 



13. Horned Owl. Bubo virginia.7tus. 



Of this list the Marsh Hawk, Red shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed 

 Hawk, Broad winged Hawk, Rough legged Hawk, Short and Long- 

 tared Owls, Screech Owl, Barred Owl and Horned Owl are of very 

 great value to the agriculturist because of the immense numbers of 

 meadow mice and other small rodents they annually destroy. The 

 mice when unchecked increase with amazing rapidity, and the hawks 

 and owls above named are among the chief natural means for their 

 (iestruciion, mice and other rodents forming a large percentage of 

 their food I he harm the hawks do in the destruction of small 

 birds is inconsiderable compared to the benefits derived by the 

 farmers from the destruction of the four footed pests. The owls par- 

 t'culary work by night and hence the benefits they confer are easily 

 overlooked. 



The Sparrow Hawk is one of the most harmless of birds and one 



