PROTECTION AND PROPAGATION OF WILD LIFE 467 



Apparently it is an easy matter to get the necessary laws 

 passed as soon as the general public is made to realize the 

 present condition of our wild life. It is one of the chief func- 

 tions of the organizations mentioned above to distribute a knowl- 

 edge of the value of protecting and propagating wild animals. 

 It is the duty of every one to help in this work, and no chance of 

 aiding in this great cause should be allowed to escape. No 

 better example of the results of a lack of education can be 

 cited than that of the campaign against the hawks in 

 Pennsylvania. 



" In 1885, the rural feeling against hawks and owls reached the 

 high- water mark in Pennsylvania. In response to the demands 

 of the farmers of the state, the Pennsylvania legislature enacted 

 a law providing a bounty of fifty cents for the heads of hawks 

 and owls. Naturally, great slaughter of these birds ensued. 

 In two years, 180,000 scalps had been brought in and $90,000 

 had been paid out for them. 



" The awakening came even more swiftly than the ornithologists 

 expected. By the end of two years from the enactment of ' the 

 hawk law,' the farmers found their fields and orchards thor- 

 oughly overrun by destructive mice, rats, and insects; and again 

 they went clamoring to the legislature, this time for the quick 

 repeal of the law. With all possible haste this was brought 

 about; but it was estimated by competent judges that in dam- 

 ages to their crops ' the fool hawk law ' cost the farmers of the 

 state of Pennsylvania more than $2,000,000" (Hornaday). 



As noted in Chapter XL, there are a number of animals 

 that may be considered pests. These should, of course, be 

 kept under control. For reasons of sentiment they should not 

 be entirely exterminated, but their numbers may be reduced 

 to such an extent that they can do very little if any real 

 damage. 



