420 SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
STARLING 
Introduced 1890 into New York City; since spread over northestern 
states. Range: Western and central Europe, New England and 
Middle Atlantic States. 
but this is very unfair to the bird, for its principal food 
is mice. In fact, most of the Hawks and Owls of the 
United States are really valuable friends of the farmer 
because of the injurious rodents which they devour. 
(See “Hawks and Owls of the United States,” by A. 
K. Fisher.) 
To be fair, it must be admitted that there are a few 
exceptions; that is, that there are a few Hawks and 
Owls which do more harm than good. The Sharp- 
shinned Hawk kills many harmless songbirds and oc- 
casionally young game birds and young chickens. The 
Cooper’s Hawk, which nests throughout the United 
States, is a real chicken hawk, and the worst one in the 
country. The Duck Hawk, the "Noble Peregrine” of 
falconry, in this country feeds largely upon domestic 
pigeons, but no bird student would wish to see it exter- 
minated on account of this habit. 
