THE DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. 17 



and actual cases, and neglect of them may lead to misdirected 

 efforts, expensive failures, and even positive harm. The de- 

 struction of species harmful in one direction has often caused 

 incalculable damage in others, far outweighing the benefit 

 expected. 



Innumerable examples can be cited where the disturbing 

 of the balance of nature has resulted disastrously, in cases of both 

 removing from and adding to a fauna. Under changed con- 

 ditions, some of the most innocent seeming species have de- 

 veloped unsuspected harmful traits and others apparently the 

 most worthless have been seriously missed when removed. The 

 balance of nature is too delicately adjusted to warrant our 

 interference, until after exhaustive investigation and careful 

 weighing of evidence pro and con. Even then, the problem is 

 too complicated for any one to confidently prognosticate the 

 final resultant conditions, and a certain amount of doubt 

 always remains until practical results test the conclusions. 



Leaving out the practical economic questions altogether, 

 common humanity prompts us to destroy life only when necessary. 

 Man having great power for good or evil in nature has con- 

 sequently equally great responsibilities. It is not enough to 

 prove that a species is "useless" to justify its persecution; it 

 must be proven to be actively harmful before such a course is 

 justified, not in a slight degree, but in a manner that seriously 

 threatens our welfare. Even then the edict of extermination or 

 persecution should only be pronounced when all other remedies 

 fail. The neglect of this responsibility invariably reacts upon 

 our heads. Even should we not thereby destroy unrecognized 

 friends, we foster a disregard for lower life amongst our people 

 that is often evidenced by the slaughter of other harmless or 

 beneficial species. Bounties upon destructive hawks such as 

 the Goshawk, and Cooper's Hawk have time and again been death 

 warrants to Sparrow Hawks and others whose influence is deci- 

 dedly and actively beneficial to the farmers and mankind in general. 

 The placing of shot guns in the hands of irresponsible persons 

 at all seasons tends to nullify our game laws, valuable species 

 suffer, and protective measures are made more difficult to en- 

 force. 



