64 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



" In many cases, however, the fees of the magistrates were not in- 

 cluded, but merely the bounties paid on the birds. The bounties paid 

 for minks, weasels, foxes and wildcats, raised the sums reported to 

 $15,165.95. 



u As the time included in the returns does not come down to date, 

 and as only thirty-four out of sixty-seven counties made reports, it is 

 believed by the committee that the counties pay annually riot less than 

 $60,000 under the law of 1885, of which the largest part is paid for the 

 destruction of Hawks and Owls. That they are the best friends of the 

 farmer, and that their destruction is to him a great disadvantage, the 

 committee thinks that it has already shown, bv the letters of eminent 

 ornithologists in its report of March 4 last." 



The State Board, through its efficient Secretary, Thomas J. Edge, 

 Esq., labored most industriously to show the economic value of the 

 raptorial birds, and secure the repeal of that part of the u Bounty 

 Act " relating to the Hawks and Owls. 



The subjoined report, entitled the " Bounty or k Scalp ' Act of 1885," 

 by Thomas J. Edge, Esq., will give a very clear idea of the efforts 

 made by the State Board through its energetic Secretary : 



"The Bounty or 'Scalp' Act of 1885. 



" During its session of 1885, the Legislature enacted the following 

 act for the destruction of wolves, wildcats, foxes, minks, hawks, wea 

 sels and owls in this Commonwealth : 



u SECTION 1. Be it enacted, dkc.. That for the benefit of agriculture 

 and for the protection of game, within this Commonwealth, there is 

 hereby established the following premiums for the destruction of cer- 

 tain noxious animals and birds, to be paid by the respective counties 

 in which the same are slain, namely, for every wildcat two dollars, for 

 every red or gray fox one dollar, for every mink fifty cents, for every 

 weasel fifty cents, for every hawk fifty cents, and for every owl, ex- 

 cept the Arcadian, screech or barn owl, which is hereby exempted 

 from the provisions of this act, fifty cents. 



u SECTION 2. It shall be the duty of any person, having killed any 

 animal or bird mentioned in the first section of this act, and who is 

 desirous of availing himself of the premiums therein provided, to 

 produce such slain animal or bird before any magistrate, alderman or 

 justice of the peace of the county, in which the same was killed, and 

 make affidavit of the time and place of killing the same : Provided, 

 That the pelt, if entire from the tip of the nose of any such animal, 

 may be produced in lieu of the same, when so preferred; and upon 

 the reception of any such animal, or pelt, or bird, it shall be the duty 

 of such magistrate, alderman or justice of the peace, in the presence 

 of said person killing such animal or bird, and one elector of the 

 county, to cut off the ears of such animal or the head of such bird, 

 and in the presence of said persons, burn the same. 



kt SECTION 3. Upon the destruction of the ears or heads as aforesaid. 



