Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-11-16
RzD-sHouLDEaxD HAWK.

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greatest importance.
RED-sHoULDERED HAWK.
fBy William butcher. Published BY the
National Association Of Audubon So.
cieties.l
The generic name Of this hawk, bxteo, q
buxsard, 10 Of very ancient origin, being
mentioned in the writings OF Pliny; its
specific name 10 from Inca, line refer
ring to the streaking Of the plumaee.
The western form eiegans, meaning eie-
CANT, probably refers to the beauty and
special brightness Of its feathers, while
the southern form ID named in honor OF
Or. J. A. Allen, the weil-known orni-
theological student and writer.
There are twelve species aud subspecies
OF buteos In North America, four OF
which belong to the red-tailed hawk
group, and three to the red-shouldered
family. Without single exception, the
buteos arc valuable aids to the agricuI-
turist, ~ will be shown in detail later.
As class they are rather heavy, deIiber-
ate fiers, much given TO soaring in circles
at great height. At other times they are
prone to select some point OF observation
on dead limb In the tree districts, or q
knoll in the prairie regions, where they
will remsin in perfect repose for = long
period, seemingly asleep; however, any
attempt to approach them by an observer
quickly shows that they are alert and
watchrul.
Unfortunately, the harmless and bene-
hcial hawks OF the buteo tribe are the
scspegoats Of all that is bad in the hawk
family, and are made to suffer for most
OF the sins that very small leaven Of
facts, magnified by the prejudice and
Ignorance Of ages, has swollen to q very
mountain OF crime. Without reason they
are called ''chicken- hawk" and "hsn-
hawk, simply because . farmer from
time to time may miss from his flock Of
barnysrd fowl puliet or hen, or may find
their scattered feathers where q tragedy
has occurred. The farmer does not for .
moment consider that this crime may
have been committed by q fox, skunk,
mink, weasel, cat, or some other carnivor-
Gus animal, but at once attributes it to .
hawk, and immediately registers vow to
kill every hawk that he sees, without
rejecting that by SO doing he may be kill
ing one OF his best friends.
Farmers are not the only persons who
have prejudice against hawks, for it is
unfortunately too true that large per-
RI 90 NJ arort q mo >, .; hrto H.. - H.
diminishing numbers Of game birds to
hawks, and consequently never fail to
kill one when an opportunity occurs.
There is really very little doubt but that
an increase in the number Of hawks OF the
buteo class would result in an increase of
game birds, ss the hawks would reduce
the number Of small predaceous mammals
that are so destructive to the young Of
game birds.
1t is certainly very short-sighted
policy on the part OF anyone to condemn
hawks on hearsay evidence. In human
affairs no court will permit the admission
Of this kind Of testimony, and why
should it be considered when birds are on
trial? The proper method to Judge OF the
good or evil that hawks do is to consider
the results Of thorough and scientific
investigation OF the food OF large num-
Der OF hawks collected from widely
rated sections Of the country and at all
seasons OF the year. Under certain cir
cumstances an individual hawk may be
guilty OF doing harm owing to his par
tieular surroundings, but that is no rea-
son for condemning all hawks, any more
than it would be for charging with crime
every citizen in q village because one mis-
guided individual was caught robbing the
bank.
The subject OF the economic status of
hawks is one of great Importance, and the
agriculturist who is not willing to care
fully examine all Of the evidence pre-
sented certainly is not living up to the adj
vanced ideas OF the twentieth century, but
is still cropping in darkness. The wide-
awake farmer investigates every problem
that will enable him to increase his prod
ucts a pound or q bushel. II it can be
proved that hawks destroy enormous
quantities Of insects and vermin that are
known to be . serious menace to agricul-
ture, should they not be protected as valu-
able auxillaries to this industry, which is
by far the most important and valuable Of
all that engage the attention Of mani
The following evidence regarding red
shouldered hawks is taken from the re-
port Of the ornithologist OF the state
board OF agriculture OF Pennsylvania, 1880:
In my examination of 6fty-seven Of these
hawks lred-shoulderedl which have been
captured in Pennsylvania, forty-three had
been eating field mice, some few other small
quadrupeds, grasshoppers and insects. most
ly beetles; nine revealed frogs and insects
two, small birds, remains Of small mammals
and a few beetles; two, snakes and portions
Of frogs. The gixzard OF one bird contained q
few hairs Of feld-mouse and some long
black hair which appeared very much like
that of skunk. The bird on dissection gave
. very decided odor Of skunk. In two OF
these hawks, shot in Florida. found in one.
portion Of Q small catfish, and in the other