MENDS a„a FOES I' of>yilD LIFE ^' I > ^V U ^1f. V^ PUBLISHED BY THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION STATE OF NEW YORK ClNC WALKIR HEIPVILDIIFE JO DO ITS BIT BIROS HAKE AGRICULTURE P&IRBLE By Killing Insect and Rodent Pests, They Save Crops Enough to Feed Our Army Over There FISH AND GAMeIuFnISH FOOD THOUSANDS OF TONS ARE TAKEN ANNUALLY Conservation Laws are designed to make Fish, Game and Birds more abundant and are vitally necessary for National Welfare THE MAN WHO ILLEGALLY TAKES GAME OR FISH OR KILLS BIRDS DECREASES FOOD RESOURCES AND DEFRAUDS HIS COUNTRY REPORT VIOLATIONS TO THE NEAREST GAME PROTECTOR CONSERVATION COMMISSION. ALBANY FRIENDS AND FOES OF WILD LIFE A Discussion of Certain Predacious Birds and Animals from the Standpoint of the Sportsman, Trapper and Farmer By CLINTON G. ABBOTT Confidential Secretary and Editor STATE OF NEW YORK CONSERVATION COMMISSION ALBANY A - STATE OF NEW YORK CONSERVATION COMMISSION ( !ki)1{(;i.: D. PiiATT Connin'xsionrr Alexaxdek Macdoxald Drpiitfi Connnissioner Warwick S. Carpentkf Sccrcfarii Marshall McLean Counsel DIVISION OF FISH AND GAIME Llewellyn Lecce Chief n. of D, 'UN 20 1919 ALBANY .1. H. L^ON COMPANY, 19 19 f^ ^^V/- P r I x^/,- '2.; u ; 5 ' < ^tij-rvs THE BLACK LIST rklflOH TAdflrJ >^OITAVfla2H03 T2HIAOA viHOW TAHT 2JAMIt^.A QUA aOHia 1. COMMON CROW 2. COOPER'S HAWK First year female Adult male 4. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK Adult female First year male 7 RED SQUIRREL 5. GREAT HORNED OWL 9. HUNTING HOUSE-CAT 3. GOSHAWK First year Adult 6. WEASEL 8. RED FOX BIRDS AND ANIMALS THAT WORK AGAINST CONSERVATION FRIENDS AND FOES OF WILD LIFE Damage Done by Vermin " Verniiii," with all the coiitempt that the word implies, is a name which only within eomparativel.y recent years has come to be given in this country to the various kinds of birds and animals that ])rey u]>on useful wild life. Borrowed originally from the vernacular of English gamekeepers, it is now generally miderstood in America to apply to foxes, weasels, rats, hunting house cats, red squirrels, certain kinds of hawks and owls, crows, black snakes and other creatures that make their livelihood by the sacrifice of their more valuable and attractive neighbors. Eveiy intelligent movement for the protection of insectivorous birds, game l)irds and game animals has recognized the importance of holding vermin in check; in fact the success of such protection may usually be measured by the extent of the campaign against vermin. In England, for instance, where thousands of private gamekeepers are ever alert for an opportunity to nail uj) another cat's tail or crow's head in their " larder " of vermin trophies, the stranger is at once struck by the great abundance of song l)irds, and by the amazing quantity of game which it is possible to take in a single day. On the other haml, in many a neglected region in America, vermin have had things their own way for so long that many of the valuable tlenizens of wood and field have been reduced almost to the point of extermination. The Conservation Commission is entirely awake to the vital im])ortance of unstinting warfare upon '"vermin," if a plentiful sujjply of game and other useful wild life is to continue. On the back of every hunting and trap])ing license issued in the year 1919 is printed in large letters the slogan: "Enlist in the Campaign against Vermin," together with the words, "Shoot all you can of foxes, cats hunting ])rotected birds, harmful hawks, red squirrels and other enemies of useful wild life. You will benefit both the game and your own sport." Furthermore, in the tally card with which each sportsman is i)rovided for the ])ur})ose of recording what he takes during the year, the list of vermin is given a ])lace as promi- nent as that occupied by game and fur-bearing aniujals. 3 4 State of New Yokk — Coxservation Commission In iuUlition, oiu' hundred of the State i;anie protectors liave been provided during the hist year with ^S-i^O Winchester rifles, which they are instructed to carry with them at all times when in the field, and to use for the reduction of vermin whenever o])portunity oft'ers. At the same time, there was sent to each protector the following list of vermin and other undesirable creatures, to which he was directed to confine the use of his rifle: Lynx Crow Bol)cat English sj)arrow Hunting house cat Starling Red fox Sharp-shinned hawk Gray fox Coo])er"s hawk Red squirrel Goshawk Weasel Great horned owl House rat Great gray owl Porcupine Snowy owl Woodchuck Every protector is required to rej^ort to the Commission the numl)er and kind of vermin which he kills each month, and the record to date is a good one. But a force of some 1'2.) game pro- tectors, scattered over the State, each patrolling a territory averaging about 400 square miles, can luirdly be expected to cause extensive diminution of vermin, no matter how conscientious they are in the work. Every s])ortsmau, every farmer and everyl^ody else who be- lieves in the conservation of useful l)irds and animals, must enlist in the campaign and do his share. Only by such active cooperation, year in and year out, can a definite check be put upon these harm- ful creatures and lieneficial results to desirable wild life be ett'ected. What lias liecome of the rutted grouse, the noblest game h'lrd of the east? Certainly the alarming decrease in the numbers of the much loved "partridge" cannot be attributed to sportsmen, who take only a small number during the limited hunting season and could never have brought the birds to their jjresent low el)b. As part of a systematic investigation of this pr()])lem, the New York State Con- servation Commission in 1917 sent a questionnaire to every game protector, every forest ranger and every sportman's organization in New ^'ork State, one question in which inquired into the chief causes of the birds' decrease. Altogether, '-270 replies to the question- naire were received by the Connnission, and although the returns from the ])rotectors and rangers were tabulated separately from those of the sjxjrtsmen, both groui)s not only named the same four Friends and Foes of Wild Life 5 causes as having the greatest l^earing on the decrease of the birds, but also pUiced them in the same order of importance, namely, (1) foxes, ("i) bad nesting seasons, (3) hawks, and (4) common cats. It is very significant that three of these four causes point the finger of blame at some form of vermin. Many other concrete instances of the depredations of vermin might be cited; but they are unneces- sary. Every sportsman and every farmer is well aware that vermin must be kept in check. Bounty System Undesirable Many states offer bounties for evidence that predacious creatures have been killed. Under present-day conditions in New York State, however, the institution of a bounty system would be of little or no benefit. The skins of the more destructive four-footed vermin already have a definite market value, and, with a prime fox pelt worth from twenty to twenty-five dollars, and even a weasel's skin bringing a dollar or more, the small bounty which the State could pay would hardly prove an incentive to more captures. In the case of birds, there is always danger under a bounty system that useful species will be sacrificed. All hawks and owls are not harmful, but, where there is a chance for a bounty, little distinction is likely to be made. In fact in any cami)aign against vermin, the chief problem is whether the desirable characteristics of a certain creature of question- able habits more than outweigh the undesirable characteristics. For instance, the skunk, the mink and the raccoon undoubtedly do great damage to game birds and poultry; but the State Legislature has ruled that their value as fur-bearers is more important than their depredations as vermin, and it has therefore granted them protection throughout the greater part of the year (except in the case of skunks which are actually injuring property). On the other hand, foxes, both red and gray, are so exceedingly destructive of wild life that, in spite of the value of their fur, they are regarded as outlaws the year round. Similarly, among birds, the barred owl may seize an occasional young partridge, although the bulk of his diet consists of destructive rats and mice. The balance is in his favor, and he is therefore protected in New York State at all times. But the great horned owl, whose meals consist largely of game and poultry, may be shot at any season. The species whose records are overwhelmingly bad are surpris- ingly few; in other words, it is only a few kinds of marauders that G State of Xew York — Conservationt Commission are taking the present large toll of useful birds and animals. It is upon these few that a eoncentrated fire should he direetjinl hy all sportsmen, farmers and trappers. In order to emphasize in the most vivid maimer possible just who comjjrise this undesirable comi)any, its chief members have l)een assembled in the accompany- ing colored i)lale, which is designated THE BLACK LIST. Animals in the Black List Of ((uadru])cds, the most cons])icuous offenders are foxes, weasels, red sc(uirr(>ls and house eats. The depredations of foxes are too well known lo recpiire much comment; the answers to the Conser- vation Connnission's ruffed grouse questioimaire would be sufficient condenuiation, if any were needed. As a matter of fact, every sportsman and e\(>ry farmer knows only too well from his own experience that the fox is one of the most bloodthirsty marauders in all nature. In si)ite of the fact that they are widely hunted with hounds and beset with traps, and in s])ite of the present value of their ])elts, foxes seem to be on the increase, and only l)y more strenuous warfare upon them can these greatest enemies of our game l)ir(ls be kept in check. Method of Trapping Foxes The natural cleverness of the fox makes his capture in a trap no easy matter, and success will follow only ])erseveranee and the utmost care in obliterating human scent throughout all operations. In places where there are springs and small streams, there is no better method of trajiping foxes than the old water set, which is made as follows:' " It is best to find a spring w hicli does not freeze, but for early fall trapi)ing a brook will do. The rise and fall of the water in small streams sometimes mak(\s trouble, and a si)ring or small jXHid giv(>s best results. The spring sliould be at least four feet in diameter and should be pre])ared for the set in the summer, but if care is used, may be fixed up during the tra])ping .season. A moss covered ston(\ or a sod (according to siu'roundiugs) should be i)laced about a foot and a half from shore, and should rise about two or three inches above the water. This is the bait sod. The tra]) is set half way between the sod and the shor<\ and the jaws, springs and chain should be covered with mud. or whatever is found in the l>ottom of the spriiig. ""The ])an of the trap should just be co\(>red with water. A piece of moss or sod should now be placed on the ])an of the trap, so IE. Krcps, "Tho Science III 'rr;ipi)itiK," p. 113. lA. H. Uaidiiin, Pub., St. Louis, Mo.) Friends and Foes of Wild Life 7 that it will rise an inch above the water. When ])r()])erly placed, this sod will look natnral and will apparently be a safe stepping place for the fox. The pan should be so adjusted, by means of a dried goldenrod stalk or otherwise, so that it will not s|)ring too easily. A small piece of bait and preferably also some " scent "- should be placeti on the larger sod. " In making this set the trap])er should wade up the outlet of the spring, and stand in the water while making the set. Do not touch the bank or any of the surroundings. The trap should be H«i5% am,"/.- ■ Au/»* Water Set for Trapping Foxes fitted with a chain about three feet in length, with a two-])rong drag attached, but most trap|)ers simply wire a stone of eight or ten pounds' weight to the end of the chain. The drag, whatever is used, should be buried in the bed of the spring. " The flesh of the muskrat, skimk, opossum or house-cat is recom- mended for bait, and it should l)e allowed to taint by remaining about a week in a glass jar. Two men have been known to catch over one hundred foxes in a season with this method, besides con- siderable other furs taken in the same traps, for the method is good for many other animals besides the fox. " One trap))er recommends setting the traj) in exactly the same manner, except that the bait sod is omitted, and the liait, a bird, Prepared "ticent" may lie olitained from R. L. Hayes, Hlooniiiit;clale, Esisex Co., X. Y. S State of New York — Coxservatiox Commission is fastened by means of a stick tlinist in the bottom of the spring. The stick must be entirely out of siuht, and the bird apparently floatine; in the water. Both of these methods are very good, and are especially recommended for the novice, as they are the easiest and surest mi^thods to start on." Weasels and Squirrels The tireless hunting instinct of weasels and their insatiable desire to kill are well known to all. They are not satisfied with suj)plying the call for food, but, whenever opportunity arises, kill from sheer lust of slaughter. They unhesitatingly attack prey many times their own weight — rabbits, quail and ruffed grouse falling easy victims. Of the s((uirrel family, the red squirrel is admittedly the most destructive, and seems to have few redeeming qualities. Dr. E. W. Nelson, Chief of the Biological Survey, U. S. Department of Agriculture, writes: " The worst trait of the red squirrel is his thoroughly ])roved habit of eating the eggs and young of small birds. During the l)reetling season he spends a large part of his time in predatory nest hunting and the number of useful and beauti- ful birds he thus destroys must be almost incalculable. The number of red squirrels is very great over a continental area, and one close observer believes each squirrel destroys '•200 birds a season. The notable scarcity of birds in northern forests may be largely due to these handsome but vicious marauders."'^ In the destruction of l>irds' eggs and young liirds. red scpiirrels are far more serious offend- ers than gray squirrels or chipmunks, the largest ])art of whose menu consists of nuts, acorns and seeds. Cats The toll of useful wild life taken aninially I)y domestic cats would undoubtedly amaze many a person who is accustomed to associate cats only with the warmth of the kitchen fireside. Dr. Frank M. Chapman of the American Museum of Natural History believes that there are not less than ^25,001),0()0 cats in the United States and that there may be twice that iunnl)er.* l^ractically all of these cats gain ])art of their livelihood by hunting. Even cats that are household ])ets are bound to indulge their natural instinct of bird killing — oft(Mi unobserved, at night or in the early morning — whereas vagrant cats, abandoned cats, surj)lus cats and cats gone wild form •Nat. GeoKiaplii.- May., Ma i]iird-LoiT, I '.102, p. 7U. Friends and Foes of Wild Life 9 probably the most dangerous destructive force, wlien tlieir num- bers are considered, that insectivorous and game birds have to cope with. The wide extent to which cats carry on their dejjreda- tions is revealed by their tracks in the snow in game covers far from any human habitation. E. H. Forl)ush, State Ornithologist of ^Massachusetts, writes of " two Maine trappers who asserted that as many cats as other fur-bearing animals were caught in their traps even in locations ujiward of thirty miles from any house or clearing."'' The cat nuisance can be remedied only by the cooj)eration of farmers and other harborers of cats in closely limiting the number of cats on their premises and in destroying their litters; and by the assistance of sportsmen in shooting hunting cats found afield. New York State was the first state to take cognizance of the cat menace to bird life in the enactment of a "cat law" in April, 1918, which ]jrovides that " Any person over the age of twenty-one years, who is the holder of a valid hunting and trapping license, may, and it shall be the duty of a game protector or other peace officer to, humanely destroy a cat at large found hunting or killing any bird protected by law or with a dead bird of any species protected by law in its possession; and no action for damages shall be maintained for such killing." ^ Birds in tlie Black List In a discussion of birds in the vermin class, we must first observe that under the provisions of the New York Conservation Law and of the Federal Migratory Bird Law, one may kill at any season in this State only the English sparrow, starling, crow, hawk, snow-owl, great gray owl, great horned owl, and kingfisher. Eliminating the English sparrow, starling and kingfisher, which, while they may be regarded as a nuisance in certain fields, do not come exactly within the category of vermin, we come to a consideration of the crow, which has well been ])laced by the artist at the toj) of the " Black List." Crows In a bulletin lately issued l\v the Board of (iame Commissioners of Pennsylvania' upo;i methods of combating the crow, he is branded as the leader of all vermin, " who destroys individually more birds of all kinds, more birds' eggs and young poultry than any other bird that ever flapped a wing." Certain it is that anyone who has watched the ceaseless procession of crows winging their way in the » "TJip Doniestif Cat," State Board of Agrifulture, Bostc sChap. 333, Laws of 191S, Conservation Law, §193-b. ■ "The Crow," Bui. Xo. 3, Harri-burg, Pa. 10 State of Xkw Ydhk — Conservatiox C'ommissiox late aftcnioun to tlicir commoii roostiiiu place, or leaving' it in the niorniui;', has been iniinx'ssed with the treinen(h)u.s a^'ureuate damage that iniisl l)e (h)ne hy this army of l^lack marauders, wliose iium])ers seem to have no end. A jucUcious use of j)oison and the gun are undou))tedly the l)est cure for the crow's many ]>ad hal)its. It lias l>een found that crows can often ])e easily l)rought within gun range through the use of a stuti'ed owl. .\11 birds seem to haxe an instinctive fondness for tormenting owls which they may discover abroad in the daylight, and by displaying a large stufl'ed owl in some conspicuous spot and then imitating the call of the j4-Mi#ii«^^, Crows AIobbixc; a Stuffed Owl crow from a nearby hiding place, it is possible to gather together the crows of an entire neighborhood, who seem to lose tlieir natural suspicion in their (>agerness to mob the owl. .Vn added assistance in this fiui of fooling the crows is an arrangement by which the stulh'd owl can be made to mo\e its head and wings when certain strings are |)ulled.~' For tht)se who are not good bird mimics a "crow call"' is also d<>sirable. This is a small wooden instrument resembling a whistle and can be j)urchased from any sporting goods dealer oi- hardware store for from se\enty-hve cents to on<> dollar. E\-en without the help of a stuti'ed owl, skillful use of the crow call will often attract crows within gun shot. ** Stuffed owls Willi this iiicrhaiiisiii inav Vu- lnuicrlit fidiii Fred Sauter, 42 Hleeckor St., X. V., and Von Lengorkf & Dcdnolil, I'iMi .'itli Ave, X. V. Friends and P\)es of Wild Life 11 Birds of Prey The l)irds of prey — hawks and owls — otter a far more diffieult prol)lem to the conservationist who is anxions to discriminate between those species which are harmfnl and those which do more good than harm. It is to be regretted that the Conserxation Law of New York uses the general word " hawk " in the list of birds which may be shot at all seasons, regardless of the many beneficial hawks which inhabit the State. In the case of owls a reasonable distinction is made in the law, only the "snow-owl, great gray owl and great horned owl " being in the un])rotected class. Of these three, the snow owl (or snowy owl, as it is more often called) and great gray owl are both so rare as very seldom to be seen by the ordinary sportsman or farmer. The snowy owl occurs very irreg- ularly and only in winter; the great gray owl is practically confined to the Adirondack forests. The great horned owl, on the other hand, is fairly common. All three are A'ery large owls — the largest that occur in the State — and range from '■2'-2 to '•27 inches in length. All of the owls of smaller size are included in the lieneficial class — ■ their chief food being mice — and they are |)rotected by the State throughout the year. The only protected owl that ap]>roaches in size the three improtected kinds is the l:)arred owl, which is our commonest woodland owl and, considering the quantity of harmless rodents it disposes of in a year, is a friend of both farmer and sjjorts- nian. Unlike the great horned owl, it has no ear tufts. The Great Horned Owl Standing in a class by itself, in the damage it does to usefid wild life, is the great horned owl. This " tiger among birds " should be killed wherever fountl. Its voracious a]>i)etite, powerful frame and habit of hunting at night, when many of its victims are aslee]) and helpless, combine to make it an exceedingly dangerous enemy of partridges, pheasants, fur-bearing animals, rabbits and other game, as well as of the inhabitants of the i)oultry yard. Every lover of birds knows how the quail covey sleeps — in a little circle on the ground — each night in al)out the same spot. Let a great horned owl once discover the sleeping place of a covey of ([uail, and he will " clean them up " to the very last bird. The Hawk Family To identify correctly the \'arious members of the hawk family in the field is puzzling even to an expert, and it is to be expected that sportsmen and farmers in attempting to kill noxious hawks. 1'^ State of New York — Conservation Commission and at the same time .s])are the beneficial species, will haAC difficulty in avoidinii, mistakes. If, however, they will take the pains to learn, using the accompanying plates to name hawks that have been shot, it will not be long before they can readily distinguish the free- booters of the bird world from some of man's best feathered allies. Whether a hawk is harmful or l)eneficial cannot })e judged from a few isolated acts. All hawks will eat flesh and blood, and if under stress of starvation or the pressure of hungry nestlings to be fed, a certain kind of hawk is seen to take a quail or young chicken, the conclusion must not be jumped at that the majority of his meals consist of just this prey. Fortunately we are not obliged to rely upon guess-work or surmises in this connection, for the U. S. Biologi- cal Survey has made an exhaustive study of the food habits of hawks and has learned what each kind eats — not from field observations, but from actual examination of the stomach contents of hundreds of hawks, taken at all seasons of the year and in [many localities, and sent to AYashington. Dr. A. K. Fisher, of the Biological Survey, has published the conclusions of these investigations as Circular 61, entitled " Hawks and Owls from the Standpoint of the Farmer," which is full of authoritative information on this much misunderstood subject. It may be secured for five cents from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. Harmful Hawks From the data ol)tained, it may be definitely stated that with the exception of the very rare duck hawk, there are only three kinds of hawks that deserve a ])lace in the " Black List." These are the goshawk, the Cooper's hawk, and the sliar])-shinned hawk. As may be seen in the colored ])late, these three hawks are all similar in color- ing and shape. Tiie sharp-shinned hawk is, so to speak, merely a smaller edition of the C(K)j)er's hawk, which, in turn, resembles a small gosliawk. Fortunately the goshawk is a northern s])ecies and is uncommon in New York State except in the colder months. Occasionally, how- ever, when food is scarce in its Canadian home, it descends in great numbers upon our forests and covers, and decimates the supply of ))artri(lges, rabbits and i)oultry to an appalhng extent. Called, sometimes, " partridge hawk," ami " lihie darter," it is relentless and fearless in pursuit of its (piarry, little regarding the presence of man, and seldom failing in the capture of its intended victim. Cooper's hawk is In- far the most (k'structive hawk in New York Slate, not l)ecause it is iiKhxiihiallv worse than the goshawk. F'Rif:;NDs AND Foes of Wild Life 13 but because it is so much more numerous that the aggregate damage it does far exceeds that of all other birds of i:)rey. To Cooper's hawk the names of " chicken hawk " and " hen hawk " ought properly to be given, instead of being misapplied to the more con- spicuous, but practically harmless, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks. Almost every stomach of Cooper's hawk examined by the Biological Survey contained remains of wild birds and poultry. The sharp-shinned hawk, a miniature of Cooper's hawk, is fully as destructive to bird life as its larger cousin. It employs the same swift, " darting " methods of pursuit, and sometimes even relentlessly follows its prey on foot through the imdergrowth. Of 107 stomachs containing food that were examined, no less than 105 contained birds. Among the victims it was possible to recognize the remains of nearly fifty kinds of Ijirds, ranging from quail, mourning doves and flickers — which are as large as the sharp- shinned hawk itself — down to birds as small as warblers and chickadees. This hawk is therefore well named " bird hawk " in some districts. The goshawk. Cooper's hawk, and sharp-shinned hawk form the group of hawks whose habits are responsible for the condemnation of birds of prey as a class. All farmers and sportsmen should learn to identify and kill them whenever possible. Their comparatively short, rounded wings, their long tails, their characteristic flights — wdiich, in pursuit of prey, is low and dashing, and in the open consists of alternate flapping and sailing — ^and their usual silence of voice, all serve to distinguish them from the useful group of hawks. The latter watch for their prey from some conspicuous perch or while soaring slowly on outspread wings, and all have characteristic cries that can easily be recognized by anyone who takes the trouble to learn them. Beneficial Hawks The commonest members of this group have been assembled in the plate entitled THE WHITE LIST, and include the red-tailed hawk, the red-shouldered hawk, the broad-winged hawk, the sparrow hawk and the marsh hawk. The rough-legged hawk also falls in this group, l)ut it is so rare that, to avoid perplexity, it has l)een omitted from the plate. While classing these hawks as mainly beneficial, it is not to be denied that all of them may make an occasional raid upon the poultry yard or take an occasional game bird. But these irregularities are more than outweighed by their good services in waging constant warfare upon noxious rodents and insects during most of the year. 14 State of Xkw York — Conservation Commission Red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, w liicli are so closely related tlial iinmatiin' birds are didicull lo distinii,uish, are the splentlid, lou(l-\'oic<'d, soaring hawks, so familiar to every dweller in the eoiuitry, and lo which the misnomer " hen hawk "" is so fre- qnently applied. Dr. Fisher describes their i'a\'orite and i)rincipal food, as learned from many stomach examinations, to be mice^ squirrels, shrews and insects, with fro^s, snakes and crawfish also taken. Of the two sjjecies, perhai>s the red-lailetl hawk is sliii,htly more " harmful " than its red-shouldered cousin, abont 7 per cent of its food consisting of |)onltry or game, according to Dr. f'islier. A pair of red-shouldered hawks are recorded to have nested for suc- cessive years within a few hundred yards of a poultry farm con- taining SOO young chickens and 400 ducks, and the owner never saw them attempt to catch a fowl. The " whitest "' of the members of the " White List " is the broad-winged hawk. Similar in sha])e to the red-tailed and red- shouldered hawks, it is smaller in size, and less common, excei)t during its spring and fall migrations. It is also more sluggish by nature, and seldom flies far when disturbed. Insects form the largest j^art of its diet, and it seems to ha\e a special predilection for the large, juic\' caterpillars, which devom- the leaves of trees and vines, and are too formidable for the smaller insectivorous birds to attack. Snakes, frogs and toads are its second choice. Of oH stomachs of broad-winged hawks that were found to contain food upon exa.mination, .SO contained insects and "^l- contained rej)- tiles, frogs, and toads. Only '1 contained remains of small birds. Certainly, by any wholesale war upon hawks or indiscriminate bounty system, it would be folly to (lesti-t)y as valuable a bird as the broad-winged liawk. The marsh hawk's record is not (piite so clean. This is the familiar long-winged hawk, which is so often seen sailing low o\'er meadow and marsh. In some plumages it is gray, in others l)rown, but it is always easily distinguishable by the consi^icuous white ])atch upon the iMunp. It beats tirelessly over the ground and occasionall\' pounces suddeidy down upon soine luckless meatlow mouse or othei- crealiu'e hiding in the grass below. The luarsh hawk does fai- more good than harm, as may be seen from Dr. Fisher's statement: "Of \'2i stomachs examined, 7 contained poultry, or game birds; SI. other birds; .")7, mice; '■2'-2, other manunals; 7, re])tiles; '2, frogs; 14, insects; 1. indeterminate matter; and 8 were em])ty." I. RED-TAILED HAWK Adult First year 2. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK Adult First year 3. BROAD-WINGED HAWK Adult First year 5. SPARROW HAWK Male Female 4. MARSH HAWK Adult male (chased by red-winged blackbird) Female or immature HAWKS THAT AID CONSERVATION XWAH l/:0[TA:/P.3mOD aiA TAHT e>!WAH THE WHITE LIST Fri?:nds and Foes of Wild Life 15 Last and least, l)ut coimnonest of all in the '"White List" group, is the handsome little sparrow hawk, so often seen standing on a telegraph pole or dead tree l>y the roadside, or else hovering, as though suspended in mid-air, i)reparatory to droi)ping ui)on its diminutive prey. Were it not for its oecasional weakness for very young ehiekens in the spring-time, the s])arro\v hawk might receive a " clean hill of health." But surely we nuist agree that at other seasons of the year it more than makes reparation for any possible misbehavior in the i)oultry yard, when we read the official analysis of .'J'-iO stomachs, wherein " 1 contained a game bird; .>;>, other l)irds; 89, mice; l'-2, other mannnals; VI, reptiles or batrachians; "^lo, insects; 29, spiders; and "29 were empty." (Grasshoppers, crickets and beetles form its ])rincipal food during the warm montiis, while mice predominate during the rest of the year. In his " Hawks and Owls from the Stand])oint of the Farmer," Dr. A. K. Fisher writes of a Mr. W. B. Hall, of Wakeman, Ohio, " who, while the hawk law was in force in Ohio, was township clerk in his native village and issued 86 bounty certificates; of these, 46 were for sparrow hawks. He examined the stomachs and found 45 of them to contain the remains of grassho])i)ers and lieetles, while the remaining one contained the fur and bones of a meadow mouse." The sparrow hawk has many local names, among them V)eing " Killy Hawk," from the sound of its cry — KUbi-kUhi-lciUji-kUhi — and " Pigeon Hawk," because its flight is thought to resemble that of a pigeon. There is another hawk called Pigeon Hawk by orni- thologists, a bird of about the same size and shai)e as the s])arrow hawk, but with a dark l)lue or l)i'own back, instead of reddish. Its beneficial and harmful (lualities are said about to balance, but it is rare in New York State — occurring only as a j^assing migrant — and for this reason it has l)een omitted from both of the plates. The only other hawk which may legally be killed in New York is the osprey or fish hawk. This splendid bird of prey, which cannot fail to arouse the admiration of the onlooker, whether it be soaring on outstretched pinions or i)lunging with wonderful aim beneath the surface of the water, should long ago have l)een i)laced in the protected class, together with the eagles, for which it is often mis- taken. It feeds largely ui)on fish that are undesirable as human food, and, except that it occasionally takes a few good fish, it has no bad habits. It is i)erhaps unnecessary to add that the so-called night-hawk is an insectivorous bird and not a true hawk. 16 Statk of New York — CoNSEin atiox Commission Conclusion That the inisdceds of a few should iiol l)riiiu all birds of j^rey into wholesale eondeinnation must he evident to one who has read the forej^oinu pai^es. lie will see that with the exeeption of four species — the ureat horned owl, ti'oshawk, Co()])er"s hawk and sliar])- shinned hawk — the commoner hawks and owls are indefatijiable workers in the interest of farmer and s])()rtsman. But while it is the i)art of true Conservation to make known the beneficial qualities of most rapacious birds, it is equally the ])art of Conservation to impress upon sportsmen and farmers alike the harm that can he done and is done by the noxious birds iiiclud(>d in the " Black List," and which are \'ermin. Every lover of the valual)le game and useful wild life of the great outdoors would do well to stutly closely the creatures included in the " Black List " plate, to learn to know them and to set his hand against them. The saying " Look after the vermin and the game will look after itself," is a saying which has stood and will stand the test of time. Destrov the vermin. Photograph fci.i'yriglitC'l) by H. H. Cleaves, reproduceii bypermission of theXational Geographic Magazine The Ospkicy — a Hakmless Hawk That Should Be Protected LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 021 486 610 9