No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 525 



COOPER'S HAWK 



It is evident that the reason for placing the Sharp-shinned Hawk 

 and Cooper's Hawlc (see Fig. 10) on the black list is that these 

 birds sometimes destroy poultry or smaller birds, but, in truth, they 

 are among the most effective enemies of the mice and English Spar- 

 row, and are not always enemies of poultry. Their economic results 

 would probably justify their extermination. 



THE GOSHAWK 



The Goshawk (see Fig. 11) is with us in the winter only, and feeds 

 chiefly upon rabbits and the game bird known as the Ruffled Grouse, 

 and, in this State, wrongly called the "Pheasant." It also occasion- 

 ally feeds upon poultry during the winter, but is not with us in the 

 summer. It is probable that this hawk is justly under the legal 

 ban, yet horticulturists who are suffering the loss of their trees from 

 the devastation of numbers of rabbits would, indeed, welcome it in 

 their 3'oung orchards. 



DUCK HAWK 



The Duck Hawk (see Fig. 12) once fed almost entirely upon wild 

 ducks, and as these have become very rare, it likewise has become 

 very rare in this State. It now feeds mostly upon small birds and 

 mice. It is one of the most beautiful birds, but so rare that the oc- 

 currence of it in Pennsylvania would be justification for scientific 

 record. There is absolutely no need of a law protecting a bird that 

 is so nearly exterminated as the Duck Hawk. 



PIGEON HAWK 



The Pigeon Hawk (see Fig. 13) is a species of Falcon, and is sup- 

 posed to be black-balled because it feeds on pigeons and small birds. 

 However, it is a great enemy of mice, rats and young rabbits, and 

 insects, and thus has its good as well as its bad points, with the for- 

 mer predominating. The United States authorities have published 

 "Though they feed on the flesh of birds, they destroy enough insects 

 and noxious mammals to partially offset the injury they do." 



The Eed-tailed Hawk and Red-shouldered Hawk are among our 

 most abundant of the larger hawk. Both of these are commonly called 

 "Hen-Hawks," but at the present time both are properly on the list 

 of birds protected at all times in the State of Pennsylvania. 



THE OWL 



Among the Owls that are unprotected are the Great-horned Owl 

 (see Fig. 15) which is sometimes called the "Hoot Owl," and also 

 the Barred Owl. It is difficult to tell why the Barred Owl, the 

 Long-eared Owl, the Short-eared Owl, the Great Grey Owl, and the 

 Snowy owls are not found on this list, together with the two other 

 owls mentioned, but we are glad that the list of owls mentioned is 

 short. It is probable that the Great-horned Owl is legislated against 

 because it occasionally eats poultry and rabbits, but we do know that 

 it is a good rat-killer and a very influential enemy of the Skunk. 

 The Barred Owl is probably on the black list because it occasionally 

 takes rabbits, although it feeds much more upou rats and mice, and 



