60 Birds of Pennsylvania. 



take pleasure in responding as followl^ 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 tlie mistaken idea us to 

 the amount of injury they do are almost inconceivable. 



"■So common, however, are these erroneous ideas resi)ecling the 

 birds of prey and their relations to the farmer and agriculturisl lliat 

 it is not at all surprising that laws similar to the one now in I'orce 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 con- 

 ducted 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 Held 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 hudsonius. 



" 2. Sparrow Hawk. Falco sparverius. 



" 3. Red-sliouldered Hawk. Biiteo lineatus. 



" 4. Red-tailed Hawk. Buteo horealis. 



" 5. Cooper's Hawk. Accipiter cooperi. 



" 6. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accijntei'' velox. 



" 7. Broad-winged Hawk. Buteo latissimus. 



" 8. Rough-legged Hawk. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. 



" 9. Sliort-eared Owl. Asio acci2nt7'inus. 



"10. Screech Owl. Megascops asio. 



" 11. Long-eared Owl. Asio loilsonianus. 



" 12, Barred Owl. Syrnium nebulosum. 



" 13. Horned Owl. Bubo virginianus. 



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

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

 eared 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 

 destruction, mice and other rodents forming a large percentage of 

 their food. The harm the Hawks do in the destruction of small 

 birds is inconsiderable compared to the benefits derived by the far- 

 mers from the destruction of the four-footed pests. The Owls j^ar- 



