The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-02

the state of Washington made no very
percepuble difference in their numbers
ana Montana In killing 7l2.192 squirrels
ana lS96B prairie dogs i'm 1887 made little
impression on the hordes of those small
beasts, In the early 70's California en-
acted laws dividing certain counties into
squirrel districts, and requiring owners to
XIII the ground squirrels on their land or
pay for having them destroyed. To-day
the animals are practically as abundant
as ever. Nearly 100000 English sparrows
We're Killed in Illinois in five years without
noticeable decrease. A vigorous attempt
was made to eXterminate these birds on
the island of Bermuda which has an area
OF only twenty square miles. ten years aft
er the species were introduced, but IL was
a failure.
The fight against the English sparrow
is helpless. The bird has established It's
position as parasite on man, finding shell
ter, food and protection from its enemies
in the towns and cities which he builds.
1t breeds with great rapidty. and it's
numbers are limited only by the available
food supply. Consequently the destruc-
ton of few hundred thousands or mill
ions merely makes room for others of
their kind, and produces no diminution
of Importance. The bird is certainly an
unmitigated nuisance, taking possession Of
the nests of wild birds and driving them
other Injurious insects by banshing the
nsectivorous birds. In the spring il eats
and cuts Off wantony the buds and bios
SONS Of the trees. It's droppings deface
buildings, statues and fountains while
their chemical action destroys vines. One
objection to the offer of bounties for kill
ing sparrows is that 1t encourages the de-
struction of native birds which are cas-
lily mistaken for them
Some of the animals for which bountes
are offered are actually beneficial instead
of injurious. This remark applies espec-
tally to hawks and owls. Since 1875 great
Interest has been manifested in the ex-
termination of hawks and owls. premiums
being offered for killing them In nine
states. Pennsylvania paid $4,000 for
heads of these birds in year and a half.
Careful estimates go 10 show that the
damage done by the victims of this mas
sacre to poultry in the period would have
amounted to not more than $1S75. But
each hawk and owl would have killed at
least 1000 mice in a year. Estimating the
damage done by one mouse at 2 cents,
each hawk or owl must save the farmer
$40 per annum. Summing up all the data.
it appears that Pennsylvania expended
$4,000 in destroying birds worth 81, s57 230
for the sake of saving Sl,S75 to the poul-
try interest.
The fact is that hawks and owls should
three species only six are harmful and
three OF the six are very rare. Many
grasshopper plaques have been due to the
ill-advised determination OF owls and
hawks The barn owls food is almost en-
trely composed Of injurious animals, such
gophers, cotton rats, and rabbits. New
Hampshire used to require the selectmen
of a town to certify that hawks were of
injurious species before the rewards were
paid but such officials are not elected on
account Of proficiency i'm ornitn0ogy.
The crow, against which such determin
ed war has been waged has been decided
by the department of agriculture to be
more beneficial than injurious. IT eats
more young chickens than hawks do; 1t
robs the nests Of useful birds, and even
steals hens eggs. and IL pulls up the fresh
shoots Of corn and other garin to get at
the seeds. On the other hand, II deyours
many Injurious insects and destroys great
numbers of mice. Its food Is varied, in
Guiding such delicacies as snakes. frogs.
fish, clans, snails, spiders, and even young
terrapin.
The pocket gopher is one of the worst
enemies man has to encounter Ia the ami
NAL kingdom. II does all its work UNDER
ground. the lines OF It's tunnels being
marked by dead and dying plants. Its
burrow runs a foot or less below the sur
face, and Is dug for the purpose of get
ting at the roots on which II feeds. One
may travel for weeks la a region infested
by gophers. and yet see not one Of them
they labor and destroy unobseryed. The
buffalo In their past abundance were not
one-tenth 50 numerous. The gophcrs do
not disappear before man, but remain In
the cultivated fields, making havoc among
the crops and killing the orchards. The
little beast Is very brave not hesitatinR
20 attack a man on slight proyocation.
When young It looks strikingly like a
baby. being hairless and pink with a
round head and fat hands It runs back
ward as rapidly as forward through its
tunnels and us equipment OF teeth Is so
admirable that IL Is able 10 make 1920
cuts a minute.
Ground squirrels are nearly as destruc-
tive as gophers. In east Washington they
do an immense amount OF damage, and
also In parts Of California, Montana, and
North Dakota. Jack rabbits are another
very serious plague In the west. The pro-
gress Of civilization has increased their
numbers In California. Colorado. Idaho
and Utah. the cultivation Of the land fur
nshing them with unlimited feed. They
are found at an elevation OF 1000 feet
on the slopes Of the Sierra Nevada, and
they have been seen near the SUBMITS OF
the highest peaks Of the Rockies II H.
reckoned that i've rabbits consume as
much as one sheep Their numbers may
be Judged from the fact that I'm three
months 5000 Of them were killed on one
tract. six by eight miles In extent. in Mo-
doc county. California.
During the colonial period bounties were
confined mainly 10 wolves. and In Virginia
for $50 years they were paid la tobacco.
which was a recognized medium OF ex-
change In some OF the colonies crows.
squirrels and biackbirds were outlawed
As the country gradually became settled.
attention Was paid 20 bears panthera villa