

THE SOUTH AFRICAN BIRDS OF PREY : 



Their Economic Relations to Man. 

 By ALWIN HAAGNER, F.Z.S., &c. 



Hon. Secretary S.A.O. Union. 



It is with some hesitation that I approach the subject 

 of this paper, as the time has hardly arrived when we 

 can formulate a perfectly correct digest of the economic 

 value of our Raptorial birds. However, as no progress 

 can well be expected without a "commencement," I 

 have endeavoured to work out as correct a statement as 

 our present knowledge will admit. 



The enmity with which most of our Birds of Prey are 

 regarded — even by educated men — is proverbial. This 

 ill-feeling extends even to birds of such unquestionable 

 utility as the owls, but in the latter case silly supersti- 

 tions play an important part in their regrettable destruc- 

 tion. Some while back even the Transvaal Game Pro- 

 tection Association — an enlightened body of enthusiastic 

 sportsmen — went so far as to propose the imposition of 

 a reivard upon every " hawk " destroyed. As a naturalist, 

 and the secretary of our Bird Protection Committee, 

 I felt it incumbent upon me to write a letter of protest, 

 both from the point of view of the agriculturist and 

 that of the naturalist. I objected to the word " hawk," 

 pointing out that it was too wide a term, and likely to 

 be misconstrued to such an extent that incalculable mis- 

 chief would be wrought. Whether my protest had any 

 effect I cannot say, but as I have heard nothing further 



