56 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



insects, which are so destructive in the fields, orchards, gardens and 

 about buildings. Until within a quite recent period, Pennsylvania 

 has been burdened with an act of Assembly awarding premiums for 

 the destruction of these well-known feathered friends of the farmer. 

 The members of " ; The West Chester Microscopical Society," recog- 

 nizing the great wrong and injury which was being accomplished by 

 the enforcement of this odious " Scalp Act," as it was .universally 

 called, took an active part in endeavoring to secure its repeal. From 

 * reports issued by their Committee on Protection of Birds of Prey, 

 the following extracts are taken : 



"The committee appointed at the last meeting of the Microscopical 

 Society to take into consideration the act of Assembly passed the 23d 

 day of June, A. D. 1885, entitled 'An act for the destruction of 

 wolves, wild cats, foxes, minks, hawks, weasels and owls in this Com- 

 monwealth,' beg leave to report that the chairman of the committee, 

 Dr. B. H. Warren, Ornithologist of the Pennsylvania State Board of 

 Agriculture, has devoted several years of his life to the collection, 

 dissection and examination of birds, and that all of the committee 

 from observation and experience have believed that all of the birds 

 denounced in the law with rare exceptions, have been found to be the 

 best friends of the farmer. Lest, however, any of the committee 

 might be mistaken they have corresponded with the best ornithologists 

 in the country, men who have made ornithology a study and are con- 

 nected with that department in the Smithsonian Institution, asking 

 their opinion as to the benefits or injury likely to arise from the execu- 

 tion of the law against the birds therein named. 



" They have received answers from Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Ornitholo- 

 gist of the United States Department of Agriculture; Dr. Elliott 

 Coues, Vice President American Ornithologists' Union ; Robert Ridg- 

 way, Curator of Department of Birds United States National Museum ; 

 Dr. Leonard Stejneger, Assistant Curator of the same department; 

 H. W. Henshaw, of the Bureau of Ethnology, also a collector of birds 

 for the Smithsonian Institution, and connected with the late Wheeler 

 Survey of the Territories, and Lucien M. Turner, a collector of birds, 

 etc., for the Smithsonian Institution for the last twelve years. These 

 answers, which are annexed to this report, all bear testimony that the 

 hawks and owls are of great benefit to the farmer, and render him 

 far greater service than injury, and that it is unwise to select any of 

 them for destruction. 



" The committee regrets to say that there have been ninety odd 

 hawks and a dozen or more owls killed since the law was passed, June 



* Reports of the Microscopical Society of West Chester, Pa., on the act of Assembly of said 

 State awarding- a premium for the destruction of Hawks, Owls, Minks, Weasels, etc., etc.. 

 enacted June 23, 1885 ; published January, 188L 



