Each bird of prey is a balanced equation.  Each one, I think without a single exception, does some damage, chiefly in the destruction of valuable wild birds.  The value of the poultry destroyed by hawks and owls is very small in comparison with their killing of wild prey. Many of the species do not touch domestic poultry!  At the same time, when a hawk of any kind, or an owl, sets to work deliberately and persistently to clean out a farmer’s poultry yard, and is actually doing it, that farmer is justified in killing that bird.  But, the occasional loss of a broiler is not to be regarded as justification for a war of extermination on all the hawks that fly!  Individual wild-animal nuisances can occasionally become so exasperating as to justify the use of the gun,—­when scarecrows fail; but in all such circumstances the greatest judgment, and much forbearance also, is desirable and necessary.

The value of hawks and owls rests upon their perpetual warfare on the millions of destructive rats, mice, moles, shrews, weasels, rabbits and English sparrows that constantly prey upon what the farmer produces.  On this point a few illustrations must be given.  One of the most famous comes via Dr. Fisher, from one of the towers of the Smithsonian buildings, and relates to

THE BARN OWL, (Strix flammea).—­Two hundred pellets consisting of bones, hair and feathers from one nesting pair of these birds were collected, and found to contain 454 skulls, of which 225 were of meadow mice, 179 of house mice, 2 of pine mice, 20 were of rats, 6 of jumping mice, 20 were from shrews, 1 was of a mole and 1 a vesper sparrow. One bird, and 453 noxious mammals!  Compare this with the record of any cat on earth.  Anything that the barn owl wants from me, or from any farmer, should at once be offered to it, on a silver tray.  This bird is often called the Monkey-Faced Owl, and it should be called the Farmer’s-Friend Owl.

THE LONG-EARED OWL, (Asio wilsonianus) has practically the same kind of a record as the barn owl,—­scores of mice, rats and shrews destroyed, and only an occasional small bird.  Its nearest relative, the Short-eared Owl (A. accipitrinus) may be described in the same words.

[Illustration:  THE BARN OWL Wonderfully Destructive of Rats and Mice, and Almost Never Touches Birds]

The GREAT HORNED OWL fills us with conflicting passions.  For the long list of dead rats and mice, pocket gophers, skunks, and weasels to his credit, we think well of him, and wish his prosperity.  For the song-birds, ruffed grouse, quail, other game birds, domestic poultry, squirrels, chipmunks and hares that he kills, we hate him, and would cheerfully wring his neck, wearing gauntlets.  He does an unusual amount of good, and a terrible amount of harm.  It is impossible to strike a balance for him, and determine with mathematical accuracy whether he should be shot or permitted to live.  At all events, whenever Bubo comes up for trial, we must give the feathered devil his due.