THE BROWN RAT 59 



between the actually harmful and the harmless birds of prey and 

 predaceous mammals. Too ofteu the farmer is inclined to think 

 that because one hawk, or owl, or skunk destroyed a fowl for him, 

 all hawks, owls, and skunks should be killed since all are harmful. 

 As has before been indicated in this bulletin hasty conclusions 

 should not be drawn; and if the indiscriminate hunter of these 

 animals will take the trouble to investigate he will find that with 

 exceedingly few exceptions all are worthy of his protection, and 

 pay, many times over, for an occasional fowl. The fact that an 

 individual may have the perverted habit of destroying poultry 

 ought not to be taken as sufficient evidence for condemning the 

 species as a whole. 



Most of the larger hawks and owls destroy considerable numbers 

 of rats. Hawks feed during the day time and in open fields where 

 rats often go for food ; in mornings and afternoons during summer 

 these alert birds of prey find and destroy the rodents. The red- 

 tailed hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-shouldered hawk, rough-legged 

 hawk, and the marsh hawk are particularly effective in this work. 

 Owls hunt largely in the evening and at night when mice and rats 

 are abroad about buildings. The barn owl is a most efficient de- 

 stroyer of rats and mice as well as one of the most wantonly perse- 

 cuted of this group of predaceous birds on account of its large 

 size and peculiar appearance. It often makes its home about farm 

 buildings, and in such surroundings enjoys ample opportunity for 

 securing rats and mice. Needless to say it is one of the most useful 

 birds on the fami and deserves better treatment than it usually 

 receives. The screech owl, great horned owl, barred owl, long-eared 

 owl, and short-eared owl all destroy rats and mice taken either from 

 the fields or about buildings. While the great horned owl, also oc- 

 casionally takes a fowl or game bird, the good which it does in de- 

 stroying rodent pests far outweighs the comparatively small amount 

 of actual damage done. 



Of the predaceous mammals, skunks are most efficient as ratters 

 and quickly destroy or drive away rats and mice from the premises. 

 These animals usually hunt at night, and if poultry is properly 

 housed it is safe from them. If skunks are not disturbed they -^dll 

 remain in the vicinity of farm buildings as long as mice and rats 

 may be secured for food. Weasels and minks also destroy many rats 

 and mice, but are prone to attack poultry that is not properly pro- 

 tected from them and sometimes kill apparently merely for the 

 love of killing. 



