THE DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. 
17 
and actual cases, and neglect of them may lead to misdirected 
efforts, expensive failures, and even positive harm. The de- 
struction of species harmful in one direction has often caused 
incalculable damage in others, far outweighing the benefit 
expected. 
Innumerable examples can be cited where the disturbing 
of the balance of nature has resulted disastrously, in cases of both 
removing from and adding to a fauna. Under changed con- 
ditions, some of the most innocent seeming species have de- 
veloped unsuspected harmful traits and others apparently the 
most worthless have been seriously missed when removed. The 
balance of nature is too delicately adjusted to warrant our 
interference, until after exhaustive investigation and careful 
weighing of evidence pro and con. Even then, the problem is 
too complicated for any one to confidently prognosticate the 
final resultant conditions, and a certain amount of doubt 
always remains until practical results test the conclusions. 
Leaving out the practical economic questions altogether, 
common humanity prompts us to destroy life only when necessary. 
Man having great power for good or evil in nature has con- 
sequently equally great responsibilities. It is not enough to 
prove that a species is “useless” to justify its persecution; it 
must be proven to be actively harmful before such a course is 
justified, not in a slight degree, but in a manner that seriously 
threatens our welfare. Even then the edict of extermination or 
persecution should only be pronounced when all other remedies 
fail. The neglect of this responsibility invariably reacts upon 
our heads. Even should we not thereby destroy unrecognized 
friends, we foster a disregard for lower life amongst our people 
that is often evidenced by the slaughter of other harmless or 
beneficial species. Bounties upon destructive hawks such as 
the Goshawk, and Cooper’s Hawk have time and again been death 
warrants to Sparrow Hawks and others whose influence is deci- 
dedly and actively beneficial to the farmers and mankind in general. 
The placing of shot guns in the hands of irresponsible persons 
at all seasons tends to nullify our game laws, valuable species 
suffer, and protective measures are made more difficult to en- 
force. 
