Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-03-05

get q chance they also can kill them.
FRANK BRUCE.
lr Frank Bruce were to write his politi-
cal views in the same strain as the above
letter, the editors of any of the old party
papers would consign it to the waste
basket as "too anarchistic'. Such letters
should never be published unless accom-
panied by an explanation for the affirma-
tive, as in this case. Too many people
have preconceived notions about these
birds, and no amount OF writing will, or
can, change their views; they will never
admit anything but that the hawks and
owls are their enemies.
During my boyhood days, in central
Wisconsin, my summer vacations were
passed on grandfather's farm; and while
the hawks were numerous, one or more
being seen daily, never saw them take a
chicken. Gophers and field-mice, no
doubt, supplied their fare.
A friend Of mine, breeder OF prize
winning poultry, whose STEW acres" with
its chicken-pens border piece OF wood
land, says that to his knowledge he never
had more than three or four little chickens
taken by hawks, and these in one day by
perhaps but one hawk. This is his "ha W k
loss" in five years. time.
There are few things that I wish to
emphasize. Farm and Fireside last year
stated the situation; "With the excep-
tion OF perhaps five or six hawks
throughout the Union) which live mainly
upon birds, and the great horned owl,
these birds are to be classed as beneficial
to the agriculturist. 1t is true that the
larger species carry off chicken now and
then. Sometimes an individual will learn
the way to a poultry-yard, and, unless
killed, will return again and again.
Against such as these action must be
taken, but this need not prejudice one
against the whole tribe"
This, then, is to be the rule: Never
shoot them until they begin carrying off
the chickens.
Since beginning my bird-studying
career, l have often wished for a repetition
OF a "hawk" experience Of the summer OF
1891, in order to prove theory that have
formed regarding the visits OF pair (O Of
hawks to a chicken-pen. / spent part OF
the summer with relative, q breeder Of
fancy poultry, in a down-county Cross
roads hamlet. The barn and chicken pens
were but few rods from hill, on top Of
which terminated the woodland OF the
neighborhood.
Nm IN mn hna M a
chicken yard, my cousin looked up and
saw q large hawk coming down out OF the
sky, whereupon he stepped into the house,
and, reappearing with the gun, he shot
Sir Hawk before he had secured the
coveted (f) chicken. Some days later,
while the folks were away, observed a
a large hawk glide into the chicken-pen
that lay behind the barn. Imagine my
excitement! Instantly / had contracted a
severe case OF "buck fever"; but managed
to get the gun, sneak along behind the
fence, open gate, and with cooked gun
to my shoulder stepped to the corner OF
the barn and, peeking around it, saw the
sshawk" perched on a fence-post. Each Of
us saw the other at the same moment. 1t
flew, and fired. The old Parker let out a
lannon's roar that sent the chickens
scurrying into the coop, and when the
smoke had cleared away / saw the hawk
lying dead.
1 have shot neither bird nor animal
since. But the point wish to make in
telling the story is this: Chicken-p pens are
oyerrun with rats and mice. Now, 1t may
be possible that it was only the mice these
hawks were after. With the aid OF their
telescope eyes they could see the rodents
from quite distance, bat upon nearing
the pens the frightened chickens probably
warned the mice, who ran to cover, while
the disappointed hawk waited for them to
reappear. Who can tell? We may be mis-
taken regarding the visits OF hawks to
poultry-yards. Anyhow, I'd be willing to
risk half a dozen chickens to have another
such chance in order to note whether OF
not hawk really could visit chicken
yard without carrying off the fowls.
Irecently read of gentleman from New
York city who stated that on his farm ne
has had a pair OF barred owls for many
years. He further says that one morning
he found one of them in his pheasant pen
and that he shot it with camera instead
OF gun. was pleased to read that he
too. had formed the wise conclusion that
the owl had chased mouse.