Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-09-13

ing to species that during every twslvl
months renders service to the agricultural
industry Of the country that IL far beyond
computation, but II measured In DOLLAR
and cents would reach to very hish ng-
ures. This appeal for protection Of thu
sparrow hawks, and the statsments - "a
their value, would be worthless II they
could not b supported BY facts.
In the exhaustive report on this species
made in 1888 by DR.. A. Z. Fisher, Of the
United States department Of agriculture,
will be found indisputable facts that prove
the absolute value OF this hawk % grass-
hopper and rodent, destroyer, and, on the
other hand, will show how little harm It
does.
Three hundred and twenty stomachs
were examined, which had been collected
in widely-separsted parts Of the country
and in all seasons OF the year. In only
one stomach was found remains Of game
bird; lit also contained twenty-nine In
sects). This fact shows that the sports
men have no excuse for killing sparrow
hawk, as it certainly does not moless
game birds. Fifty-three stomachs con-
tanned remains OF other birds, the species
being one that lived on OF very near tns
ground. In almost every instance the
stomachs OF these hfty-three hawks con-
tanned, in addition, insects or rodents Of
some kind.
Eighty nine birds had Deen eating mice
OF some species, while twenty-four hawks
had been eating other mammals. REPTILES
or batrachians. Two hundred and fifteen
birds had been eating insects OF various
kinds, largely grasshoppers, crickets,
beetles, caterpillers, etc. stomach OF
hawk collected It Lockport, N. T., in
August, contained thirty crlckees; an
other, collected in Dakota county,
Nebraska, in July, contained gopher and
thirty-eight insects; another, from Cedar
county, Nebraska, in August, contained
thirty-five grasshoppers, twenty'four
crickets, one dragon-fy and two spiders;
Q West Virginia bird had eaten twenty
i've grasshoppers, ten katydids and ten
crickets; an Alabama bird, late in Novem-
Der, had eaten twenty-five grasshoppers,
i've cricxets and two larv@; while an
@sSs
DR.. Fisher summarizes as follows: "The
subject of the food Of the hawk is one Of
great interest, and, considered in its
economic bearings, is one that should be
carefully studied. The sparrow hawk is
almost exclusively insectivorous, except
when insect food is difficult to obtain. In
localities where grasshoppers and crickets
are abundant, these hawks congregate, Of
ten in moderate-slzed HOOKS, ana gorge
themselves continuously. Rarely do they
reach any other form OF food until either
by the advancing season or other natural
causes the grasshopper crop Is SO iessened
that their hunger cannot be appeased
without undue exertion. Then other
kinds OF insects ana otner forms OF lie
contribute to their fare; and beetles,
spiders, mice, shrews, small snakes, liz
ards, or even birds, may be required 10
bring up the balance.
I'm some places IN tne "est ana 0ouSn,
telegraph poles pass for miles through
treeless plains and savannas. For lack OF
better perches, the sparrow hawks often
use these poles Tor resting places, rom
which they make short trips to PICK up
grasshopper or mouse, whicn tney carry
back to their perch. AT times wnen grass
hoppers are abundant, such line OF poles
is pretty well occupied by these hawks
In the vlcinhy OF warrington, -. ", re-
markaDle ss II may appear 10 those
who nave not interested themselves
specially IN the matter isas the exception
not to ind grashoppers or crickets IN the
stomachs OF the sparrow nawks, even wnen
killed during the months OF January ano
with snow. IL Is "onoeriui now tne Dlro'
l S<sAA NAoSSNSA s~~~ 1880 S~-o ~O--