344 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



1710. In 1713 a new Act was passed, putting the Squirrels also 

 upon the list of outlawry. This act was continued in force by 

 supplementary acts in 1716 and 1722. In 1728 a new general 

 " Act to encourage the destroying of Wolves, Crows, and Squirrels " 

 was passed. In it we find that " every master, mistress, owner of 

 a family, or single, taxable in the several and respective counties 

 within this province" shall be obliged to produce "three squirrel 

 scalps or Crows heads for every taxable person they pay levy for 

 that year." The penalty of not producing the required number 

 of scalps or heads was two pounds of tobacco for each one 

 lacking, and for any in excess a like allowance was made. This law 

 was in force for thirty years, when it was repealed, and an Act 

 specifying four Squirrel scalps or Crows' heads was substituted. 



Special laws for redeeming heads or scalps in excess of the 

 requirements of these general laws were passed for different and 

 various counties of the State, in 1749, 1762 (Baltimore Co.), 1794, 

 1795, 1796, 1798, 1803, 1804, 1807, 1809 and 1816. In 1824 all 

 Acts heretofore passed for the destruction of Crows in the several 

 counties of this State were repealed. Then new special laws were 

 passed in 1826, 1829, 1830, 1831, 1846, and 1847. In 1860, 

 with the adoption of the first general code of laws for Maryland, 

 Art. 31, concerning Crows, was inserted. In it was specified a 

 bounty of 6|- cents for each Crow's head brought in, provided 

 an oath was taken that the Crow had been killed in the county 

 where claim was made. In 1864, 1878, 1880, and 1884 (Baltimore 

 Co.), the law was repealed for certain counties. In 1882, 1884, 

 and 1886 new special laws associating with the Crows " Hawks 

 and big Owls" have been passed. 



I have consulted the general statutes now in force of all the 

 States, and find only in one other State, Virginia, that a law 

 concerning the destruction of Crows is extant. As early as 1796 

 a law was there passed requiring for every one tithable six Crows' 

 heads or Squirrels' scalps. In the Code of Virginia for 1873 the 

 right is given to each county to " allow or discontinue rewards 

 for killing in such counties Panthers, Wolves, Foxes, Wild Cats, 

 Crows, or Blackbirds." 



I have read statements of laws having been passed in the 

 early days of New England, and of such large numbers of Crows 

 having been destroyed in one season that — the crops for the 

 next season suffering a like fate from the " cut-worms" and other 



