470 BOARD OF AGETCULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



increasing at Millbury. I have seen rather more of these 

 birds than usual in Middlesex County this season, but from 

 the reports it seems probable that the species is in some 

 danger of extirpation. As against the encouraging reports 

 from Worcester County, there are eight pessimistic ones from 

 the same county. 



Family Buhonidm. — Homed Owls, etc. 



Thirty observers report owls as decreasing, ten report 

 them as unchanged in numbers, three report an increase. 

 The increase is reported only from Franklin and Berkshire 

 counties. The decrease is most marked in Worcester and 

 the eastern counties, but there are four reports of decrease 

 from Berkshire County. 



AVTiile the larger owls appear to be decreasing generall}' 

 in eastern Massachusetts, and breeding great horned owls 

 have disappeared from many sections, the screech owl is 

 still localh' common. 



Family Falconidce. — Eagles and Haivks. 



This family has been long regarded as decreasing in east- 

 ern Massachusetts, and the present inquiry confirms that 

 impression. Twenty-eight persons report eagles as de- 

 creasing, and most others report them as very rare, or even 

 nearing extinction. Mr. W. R. Stearns of Pittsfield, Berk- 

 shire County, however, says that he sees a slight increase 

 in the number of eagles there. The golden eagle is very 

 rare, but has been noted occasionally within twenty years. 

 The bald eagle is not rare at some localities along the coast, 

 especially in Plymouth and Barnstable counties ; but old 

 gunners say that it is not nearly so common as years ago. 



Hawks are reported as generally decreasing b}^ thirty- 

 seven observers ; others report them as rare; seventeen, as 

 in usual numbers ; but thirteen note an increase. The re- 

 ports of increase come mainly from Berkshire, Hampshire 

 and Franklin counties ; some come from the outlying towns 

 of Worcester County. Only five observers east of Worces- 

 ter County sec any increase in the number of hawks, and 

 these are from the more remote towns. East from Worces- 



