injurious. In this group I niclude the re- 

 rr.aining Manitoban hawks. 



Two species of the ( f. Columbarius 



Genus Falco : \ f. Peregrinus auatum 



~u • c i-i, fa. Atricapillus 



Three species of the I ^^^J 



Genus Accipiter: |^, cooperi 

 and the bald and golden eagles. 



The eagles are harmful to young stock, 

 especially lambs, and also to the young of 

 our larger garr^e, many cases being cited 

 where deer have been attacked and slain 

 by these flymg lions. But, fortunately, 

 neither species are sufficiently numerous in 

 our provmce to do any material damage to 

 agricultural or sporting interests. I have 

 certainly heard of no complaints, and feel 

 sure there is no cause for anxiety in their 

 regard, although I would not be in favor of 

 protecting them, save to prevent smaller 

 hawks from being slaughtered, as they 

 frequently are, for eagles. 



In the first mentioned genus falco we 

 have two species considered harmful. These 

 are both true falcons, and there is so much 

 to be admired in their bold and unerring 

 dash, as, true to the etiquette of the falcon, 

 they eat nothing dead and capture their 

 prey while on the wing. One redeeming 

 feature, however, is that in these two 

 species the pigeon hawk is too small to 

 carry off much poultry, and the Peregrine 

 falcon or duck hawk is not sufficiently 

 numerous to do any serious damage to 

 poultry, preferring to follow the wake of 

 the migrating water fowl, which it will not 

 hesitate to seize and dash off with from 

 under the very hand of the sportsmjan, al- 

 most before the smoke or report of the 

 gun has died off. I have frequently 

 watched the pigeon hawk capture small 

 birds flying at a rapid rate at all times. 

 He gets close to them before being observ- 

 ed, when, before the bird or mouse can 

 recover from the surprise, the hawk has, 

 with a lightning dash, seized the terrified 

 creature and carries it off. In fifty-one full 

 stomachs examined only two, or about four 

 per cent, contained poultry or game, while 

 eighteen, or 35 per cent., contained mice 

 and insects, the balance containing small 

 birds, thus showing the birds to be more 

 beneficial to agriculture than injurious to 

 poultry. 



The many cases of small-bird capture 

 by this species may be accounted for by 

 his particular fondness for blackbirds, in 

 the fall, as he follows them persistently at 

 the very time when they are destroying the 

 grain. Should it be proven that such is 

 the case (and we have no positive proof 

 that it is not), "the little corporal," as it 

 is called by some, is deserving of our re- 



spect and gratitude, with the earnest wish 

 that he and his assistant species may in- 

 crease their persecution of these increas- 

 ing pests. 



Referring to the species in " Birds of 

 Ontario," Mr. Mcllwraith says: " The little 

 corporal takes his tribute from the large 

 flocks of blackbirds without much cere- 

 mony. I once saw him " stoop " on a flock 

 as they hurried to shelter in the marsh. 

 How closely they huddled together, as 

 though seeking mutual protection, but he 

 went right through the flock and came out 

 on the other side with one in each fist." 



'(Ay//; ^v 



^,:^^- 



Great Horned Owl. 



{Bubo yirginianus.) 



In the case of the Peregrine, twenty 

 stomachs examined showed seven to con- 

 tain poultry and game, chiefly game, as the 

 bird is seldom seen about the farm, while 

 nine contained other bird remains, show- 

 ing it to be most destructive to game and 

 neutral to poultry, on account of its habitat. 



The three remaining species, the gos- 

 hawk, Coopers and sharpshinned hawks, 

 may be credited with doing more damage 

 to poultry than all other species combined. 

 They are, however, like most successful 

 rogues, in that it is extrentely difficult to 

 catch them in the act, as they are among 

 us and away with a fowl from under our 

 feet almost before we are aware of any- 

 thing going on. 



