#2 
 
 
the same with jackrabbits. On the old Cameron ranch in LaSalle 
County, for example, both coyotes and jackrabbits were exceedingly 
numerous from 1939 through 1943. During the period trappers for 
the State made some of the heaviest coyote catches ever made be- 
fore or since. This seemingly affected the jackrabbit population 
little, one way or another. Jackrabbits did appear to increase for 
a time following the intensive coyote operations which took approxi- 
mately 1474 coyotes from the King Ranch in 10 weeks early last year. 
Following late spring rains which broke a prolonged drought and 
brought abundance ground cover, however, jackrabbits evidently de- 
creased. Quite a number were seen with characteristic tapeworm cysts. 
In any event, they either died in numbers or moved for they are surely 
less numerous today than at the same period last year. Jackrabbits, 
of course, have definite cover preferances just as have quail. They 
favor areas of short grass and weeds; evidently dislike ground cover 
optimum for quail and livestock. In South Texas, therefore, grazing 
pressure probably stimulates and discourages jackrabbits as much as 
anything else. 
 
              Hawk control on the King Ranch is not "rigid" in
the 
 real sense of the word. Less than a half-dozen persons shoot hawks 
 at all extensively, and the net effect of their operations, except 
 in the instance of a species or two bordering extinction, are negli- 
 gible. Our resident hawks, the Sennet white-tail and the Harris, are 
 in good shape. More Sennets occur here than anywhere else in Texas, 
 and Harris hawks, as you know, are very common. Nobody shoots sparrow 
 hawks; few pigeon hawks are killed. Red-tails and Marsh hawks, the two 
 most common migrants, are undoubtedly shot to a lesser extent here than

 on any comparable area in Texas. We try to kill all the Cooper's and 
 sharp-shinned hawks possible, but relatively few are taken. The only 
 other regular winter residents are the rough leg, prairie falcons and 
 kites, and all are scarce. I doubt if any rough legs or falcons have 
 been killed here in the last 2 years but 3 kites were. None will 
 probably be killed in the future except perhaps by accident. 
 
              I know you will be interested to learn that Mr. Bob 
Kleberg has instructed us to leave mountain liens unmolester until 
such time as they become very destructive to game and livestock. At 
least 3 lions are already using the Norias country. The change of 
policy concerning mountain lions is in no small part the result of 
your comments, and I hope you will accept this fact as further evidence 
of the willingness of the management of the King Ranch to cooperate 
wholeheartedly in the over-all conservation program. 
 
              Hoping that this lengthy letter has not been too great 
an imposition on your time and instead will serve as another step in 
cementing the closest possible relations and cooperation between your 
office and ours, I am 
                                  Respectfully yours, 
 
 
 
                                  Wildlife Manager 
 
 
vwl;g