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it is not a native, and is abundant in Tobago and on the 
continent, if it should be accidentally killed out, a new lot 
could be readily imported. There seems to be no necessity for 
legislation of any kind as far as this bird is concerned. 
QUAIL. 
Like the preceding, this is nota West Indian bird. It 
would be best, I think, to leave its fate in the hands of those 
upon whose estates it occurs, as, if it were killed out, it could 
be easily re-introduced. 
PROTECTION OF SEA BIRDS. 
Danger of killing on breeding grounds: In regard to the 
sea birds of this colony, they are not the subject of appreciable 
persecution at any time, and they are fairly abundant. So 
long as their breeding grounds are undisturbed, the few usually 
killed away from them should make no difference in their 
economy. Wholesale destruction of their eggs and young, 
however, would soon either kill out the birds, or drive them 
away. I will cite a few cases in support of this. 
Locally extinct species: In the early days of Bermuda, the 
people were more or less dependant on a certain sea-fowl 
known to them as the ‘cabouse.’ This bird was closely related 
to, if not identical with, the Diablotin (Puffinus auduboni). It 
was killed by hundreds on the islands on which it bred, with 
the result that it soon disappeared. Another West Indian bird, 
closely related to the ‘cabouse,’ has been killed out cof several 
of the islands. I refer, of course, to the Burrowing Petrel 
(Aestrelata hasitata) known in some of the islands as the 
‘diablotin. Owing to constant persecution, the sea birds 
breeding on the coast of New England became alarmingly 
reduced innumbers, some species, in fact, almost, if not quite, 
disappearing. Of late years, however, they have been strictly 
protected, a warden being stationed in the more important 
colonies, with the result that they are now showing a definite 
increase. I give these instances, not because of any immediate 
danger to the sea-fowl here, but simply to show what might 
happen if, when serious reduction in numbers were imminent, 
the matter were not at once taken up. 
THE CHICKEN HAWK, 
The common Chicken Hawk (Buteo latissinvus) proves, on 
investigation, to be, perhaps, as much of a benefit to 
the agriculturist as it is a pest to the poultry raiser, 
since it subsists very largely on the mole cricket, some- 
times as many as twenty or more being disposed 
of at one meal. It is not at all rare to find an insectivorous 
diet among the smaller hawks ; as examples, I may mention the 
Florida representative of the West Indian Kili-hawk (Falco 
cartbbacarum), which is known to exist mainly on grass-hoppers, 
and the Margarita Kili-kili which, according to Captain 
Robinson, lives upon the same pests. It appears, therefore, 
that if it be considered unwise to protect this bird, at least no 
bounties or rewards should be offered to aid in its destruction. 
