54 BIRDS OF PREY 



them. At the same time, thousands of birds were killed that 

 were neither hawks nor owls, and the collection of freak heads 

 is a permanent joke in the office of the State Game Commis- 

 sion. It has been estimated that the "saving" to the agri- 

 cultural interests of the state amounted to $1 for every 

 $1,205 paid out as bounties! In this manner the balance of 

 Nature was quickly and completely destroyed. 



The awakening came even more swiftly than any one ex- 

 pected. By the end of two years from the passage of the very 

 injudicious "hawk law," the farmers found their field crops 

 and orchards so completely overrun by destructive mice, rats 

 and insects, they appealed to the legislature for the quick 

 repeal of the law. This was brought about with all possible 

 haste. It was estimated by competent judges that the "hawk 

 law" cost the farmers and fruit-growers of Pennsylvania not 

 less than $2,000,000 in actual losses on valuable crops. 



The moral of this episode is it is always dangerous, and 

 often calamitous, to disturb violently the balance of Nature, either 

 by the destruction of existing species of birds or mammals, or by 

 the introduction of new ones. 



And here is another principle that I commend to every 

 person who may be called upon to sit in judgment on any wild 

 species that is charged with being a "pest" species: Always 

 take evidence on both sides; and never condemn any species until 

 the evidence against it is direct, conclusive and fit to stand in a 

 court of law. 



THE AMERICAN OSPREY, or FISH HAWK/ is, by common 

 consent, regarded as a sort of connecting link between the 



1 Paridi-on hal-i-ae-e'tus carolinensis. Average length, about 24 inches; 

 weight, 3 pounds. 



