SECRETARY'S REPORT. 95 



course with these beautiful and interesting instruments in the 

 great economy of nature. 



I acted on the suggestion, and will now present a short papei' 

 on the Agricultural Value of Birds. 



This subject has, until recently, received but a very small 

 share of attention from scientific men and agriculturists gen- 

 erally ; that it possesses a degree of interest, almost vital impor- 

 tance, hardly surpassed by others of the great branches of 

 natural science, is by many appreciated. It is true that birds, 

 as a class, have been considered as beneficial, and have been 

 treated accordingly, but, until recently, no systematic inquiry, no 

 regular analyses of the habits and foods of the different families 

 have been made, to ascertain the practical relations which 

 they bear to agriculture, and the fact is the more surprising 

 when we reflect that the means of examination, the phenomena 

 by which they might have been observed, have been constantly 

 before us, among the objects of our most familiar intercourse. 

 And it is a fact, that even now, in many sections of the country, 

 even in our own State, many species, which have been ascer- 

 tained beyond a doubt to be eminently beneficial, are regarded 

 as injurious, and destroyed at every opportunity. 



Of course, my present limits will not permit me to make an 

 extended notice of the habits of all our different species of birds. 

 I propose, merely, to give a brief re^ew of the facts which have 

 been discovered, bearing on agricultural economy, in the differ- 

 ent fcanilies, together with such observations as I have myself 

 made, with reference to this important subject, during the past 

 few years. 



Beginning with the rapacious birds, I will pass at once to the 

 nocturnal birds of prey ; for it is well known that the diurnal 

 species, among which are included our eagles, hawks, l£ites, &c., 

 are very mischievous in destroying the smaller beneficial birds, 

 of which their food almost entirely consists. 



The owls, as a class, are eminently beneficial. We have, in 

 New England, about ten species, most of which are resident with 

 us through the year. Of these species, as with the other birds, 

 each has its favorite food and peculiar locality for hunting for 

 it. For instance, the Great Horned Owl, or Cat Owl, as it is 

 commonly called, prefers the deep solitude of the forest, where 

 it preys on the larger rodents, the rabbits, hares, squirrels, and 



