14 THE A,U DU BON: BUS oai rhs 
sparrow, 159; semi-palmated sandpiper, 150; catbird, 147; blue jay, 133; 
swamp sparrow, 132; myrtle warbler, 124; red-eyed towhee, 107; rusty 
blackbird, 91; veery, 89; magnolia warbler, 82; cardinal, 73; crow, 70; 
yellow-crowned night heron, 7; Harris’ sparrow, 8; Gambel’s sparrow, 4; 
yellow-bellied sapsucker, 2; and one each of the following: Baird’s sand- 
piper, long-billed dowitcher, western sandpiper, Wilson’s phalarope, saw- 
whet owl, nighthawk, ruby-throated hummingbird, red-bellied woodpecker, 
Bewick’s wren, Carolina wren, Philadelphia vireo, cerulean warbler, Ken- 
tucky warbler, and Brewer’s blackbird. 
Blue Island, Illinois. 
1a fT Fi 
The meadowlark is gaily dressed 
In a black cravat and a yellow vest; 
But if you think this bird is vain 
Please mark his coat, how very plain: 
So plain that 7f you stand behind him 
Yow ll find it difficult to find him. 
—EDWARD R. FORD 
a of, 2 
Legal Protection for Hawks and Owls 
SEVERAL INQUIRIES have come to us regarding the legal status of hawks 
and owls in the State of Illinois. In order that we may all know whereof we 
speak and that the minimum of misinformation shall be given out, we have 
asked the Department of Conservation to define for us their exact position. 
Robert ©. Sparks, Chief Inspector, replied to our request as follows: 
“Your letter of January 5th addressed to Director Livingston E. 
Osborne, has been referred to me for attention and reply. 
“Yhe Illinois Game Code which went into force and effect July 1, 1941, 
includes the following Section: 
“ “Sec. 36. It shall be unlawful for any person at any time to take 
any of the following defined species: Sharp-shinned hawk, (Accipiter 
velox); Cooper hawk, (Accipiter cooperi); Red-tailed hawk, (Buteo 
borealis) ; Red-shouldered hawk, (Buteo lineatus); Broad-winged hawk, 
(Buteo platypterus) ; Swainson’s hawk, (Buteo swainsoni); Rough-legged 
hawk, (BSuteo lagopus); Ferruginous rough-leg (Buteo regalis); Marsh 
hawk, (Circus hudsonius) ; Osprey, (Pandion haliaetus) ; Goshawk, (Astur 
atricapillus) ; Duck hawk, (Falco peregrinus) ; Pigeon hawk, (Falco colum- 
barius); Sparrow hawk, (Falco sparverius); Golden eagle, (Aquila chry- 
saetos) ; Bald eagle, (Haliaeestus leucocephalus) ; all species of owls, except 
great horned owl.’ ” 
As will be noted, this includes every variety of hawk, eagle and falcon 
common to this region and excepts but a single owl. This was made neces- 
sary by the inability of by far the majority to distinguish between the 
many hawks that are definitely beneficial in their habits and the few that 
could justly be subjected to control. To protect the good the others must 
likewise be permitted to live. 
