200 Recent Literature. I A "^ 



prepared under the direction of Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Chief of the Divi- 

 sion, by Dr. A. K. Fisher, Assistant Ornithologist, is devoted to "a 

 report on the Hawks and Owls of the United States, with special reference 

 to the economic status of the various species." To quote from Dr. Mer- 

 riam's letter of transmittal : "The statements herein contained respecting 

 the food of the various hawks and owls are based on the critical examina- 

 tion, by scientific experts, of the actual contents of about 2700 stomachs 

 of these birds, and consequently may be fairly regarded as a truthful 

 showing of the normal food of each species. The result proves that a 

 class of birds commonly looked upon as enemies to the farmer, and indis- 

 criminately destroyed whenever occasion offers, really rank among his 

 best friends, and with few exceptions should be preserved and encouraged 

 to take up their abode in the neighborhood of his home. Only six of the 

 73 species and subspecies of hawks and owls of the United States are 

 injurious. Of these, three are so extremely rare they need hardly be con- 

 sidered, and another (the Fish Hawk) is only indirectly injurious, leaving 

 but two (the Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks) that really need be 

 taken into account as enemies to agriculture. Omitting the six species 

 that feed largely on poultry and game, 2212 stomachs were examined, of 

 which 56 per cent, contained mice and other small mammals, 27 per cent, 

 insects, and only 34 per cent, poultry or game birds." "In view of these 

 facts," adds Dr. Merriam, "the folly of offering bounties for the destruc- 

 tion of hawks and owls, as has been done by several States, becomes 

 apparent, and the importance of an accurate knowledge of the economic 

 status of our common birds and mammals is overwhelmingly demon- 

 strated." 



Dr. Fisher, in his introduction, recounts these generalizations more in 

 detail, and adds: "One of the counties of Pennsylvania paid out in a year 

 over $5000 for scalps of birds of prey. . . . There is no doubt that this 

 State and others which have passed similar laws have made a serious 

 mistake; for it is indisputable that the opinion about hawks and owls, so 

 widespread and popular, is not well founded; and it is the purpose of this 

 bulletin to set forth the results of many years' observations with the view 

 of dispelling the popular illusion regarding the destructiveness of hawks 

 and owls as a class." He adds that "Owls are among the most beneficial 

 of birds, inflicting very little damage upon the poulterer and conferring 

 vast benefits upon the farmer"; and that "all Hawks, with possibly one 

 or two exceptions, are to some extent beneficial to the farmer." 



The various species of rapacious birds are divided into four classes : 

 (1) Those wholly beneficial or wholly harmless. These number six 

 species : Rough-legged Hawk, Squirrel Hawk, Swallow-tailed Kite, White- 

 tailed Kite, Mississippi Kite, and Everglade Kite. (2) Those chiefly bene- 

 ficial. These include the greater number of the most widely dispersed 

 and best known species of both Hawks and Owls. (3) Those in which 

 the beneficial and harmful qualities seem to balance each other. In this 

 class some species may be beneficial in one part of the country and injuri- 



