ECONOMIC VALUE OF BIRDS TO THE STATE. 



17 



Further practical evidence of the seed-eating ability of birds is furnished by Dr. 

 Judd, who writes: "On a farm in Maryland, just outside the District of Columbia, 

 Tree Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, White Throats, Song Sparrows and Juncos, fairly 

 swarmed during December in the briers of the ditches between the cornfields. They 

 came into the open fields to feed upon weed seed, and worked hardest where the 

 smartweed formed a tangle on low ground. Later in the season the place was care- 

 fully examined. In one cornfield near a ditch the smartweed formed a thicket over 

 3 feet high, and the ground beneath was literally black with seeds. Examination 

 showed that these seeds had been cracked open and the seed removed. In a rectan- 

 gular space of 18 square inches were found 1,130 hayseeds, and only two whole seeds. 

 Even as late as May 13, the birds were still feeding on the seeds of these and other 

 weeds in the fields; in fact, out of a collection of 16 Sparrows 12, mainly Song, 

 Chipping and Field Sparrows, had been eating old weed seed. A search was made 

 for seeds of various weeds, but so thoroughly had the work been done that only half 

 a dozen seeds could be found. The birds had taken practically all the seed that 

 was not covered ; in fact, the Song Sparrow and several others scratch up much 

 buried seed." * 



To the recent researches of the economic ornithologist we must also turn for 

 exact information concerning the food of Hawks and Owls. No birds have been 

 more maligned and misunderstood than these birds of prey. The misdeeds of two 

 or three species have brought all the members of their family into disrepute. 

 Because one Hawk has been seen to catch a chicken all Hawks are " Chicken 

 Hawks," and, consequently, to be killed Avhenever opportunity offers. Not only is 

 no protection afforded these birds by law, but in some States a bounty has been 

 given for their destruction. Indeed, a law of this nature was passed by the Massa- 

 chusetts Legislature, and the history of the so-called " Scalp Act" in Pennsylvania 

 furnishes a convincing illustration of the direct pecuniary loss which may follow igno- 

 rance of the economical value of birds. Quoting from the report for 1886 by Dr. C. 

 Hart Merriam, Chief of the Biological Survey of the Department of Agriculture: 

 " On the 23d of June, 1885, the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed an act known 

 as the ' scalp act,' ostensibly ' for the benefit of agriculture,' which provides a 

 bounty of fifty cents each on hawks, owls, weasels and minks killed within the 

 limits of the State, and a fee of twenty cents to the notary or justice taking the 

 affidavit. 



" By virtue of this act about $90,000 has been paid in bounties during the year 



* Birds as Weed Destroyers. Year Book of U. S. Dept. of Agriculture for 1898, p. 226. 



