meadow; its long wings and tail, and especially the large white patch at the base of the tail above There is certainly no excuse for killing the Marsh Hawk because of mistaken identity. All of the data regarding the food of this species of Hawk shows that it lives very largely upon a class of rodents, that do the farmers and fruit-growers of the country incalculable damage in destroying forage crops, and especially in eating the bark from young orchard trees and thus killing them. At a recent meeting of horticulturists in New Jersey, one of the members present stated that during the present winter. owing to the deep snows, mice and rabbits had damaged his orchards to the extent of $2,000. In Kansas rodents are a scourge so great that
“Since January. 1902. the demand for poison has continued steady, and large quantities have been sold, especially for the destruction of prairie-dogs and pocket-gophers, Up to the present time there has been consumed about twelve hundred pounds of strychnine and over half a ton of potassium cyanide in manufacturing poison, From 600,000 to 700,000 acres of land, formerly infested with prairie dogs, have been entirely reclaimed. While a partial destruction of them has been accomplished over a much larger area. The destruction of pocket-gopher has been accomplished over many small and widely scattered areas, including some of the best alfalfa ranches in the state. This work, however, has thus far not extended over sufficiently large areas to be permanent; further and united efforts only will produce results which will prevent loss to alfalfa growers from the presence of this pest.” (From Press Bulletin. No. 130, Kansas State Agl. College.)
Kansas, like many other states, gives no protection whatever to Hawks, although scientific research shows them to be immensely valuable aids in killing rodents. Poisons cost the farmer money, besides labor in distributing, and then do good only if the rodent eats the bait; on the other hand, the Marsh Hawk is always hungry, and during the long hours of daylight is incessantly coursing back and forth hunting for food. It works continuously without pay, and deserves legal protection as well as the care of every person who tills the soil. The contents of 124 stomachs examined by the Biological Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, shows that 45 per cent had been feeding on mice, 18 per cent on other small mammals, 18 per cent on reptiles, frogs and insects, and a low percentage on poultry and small birds. Dr. A. K. Fisher. who wrote the exhaustive and valuable report quoted from above, says:
“Although this Hawk occasionally carries ofl poultry and game-birds, its economic value as a destroyer of mammal pests is so great that its slight irregularities should be pardoned. Unfortunately, however, the farmer and sportsman shoot it down at sight, regardless or ignorant of the fact that it preserves an immense quantity of grain, thousands of fruit trees and innumerable nests of game-birds by destroying the vermin which eat the grain, girdle the trees and devour the eggs and young of the birds. The Marsh Hawk is unquestionably one of the most beneficial as it is one of our most abundant Hawks, and its presence and increase should he encouraged in every way possible, not only by protecting it by law, but by disseminating a knowledge of the benefits it confers. It is probably the most active and determined foe of meadow-mice and ground-squirrels destroying
